Table 3: Adjusted* difference in rates of postdischarge outpatient follow-up within specified time interval among older or chronically ill patients discharged from hospital
Postdischarge outpatient follow-upRate per 1000 discharges (95% CI)†
Admission for any causeAdmission for specific cause
Primary care physician
Within 7 d-0.7 (-2.1 to 3.6)1.9 (-6.5 to 10.5)
Within 15 d1.6 (-2.3 to 5.5)0.6 (-10.6 to 11.8)
Within 30 d1.7 (-6.3 to 3.0)6.2 (-7.1 to 19.5)
Medical specialist
Within 7 d-16.9 (-19.9 to -13.9)-13.7 (-19.9 to -7.5)
Within 15 d-25.1 (-29.1 to -21.1)-20.7 (-29.2 to -12.2)
Within 30 d-25.0 (-29.7 to -20.4)-21.4 (-32.1 to -10.8)
Any physician
Within 7 d-16.1 (-19.9 to -12.3)-11.9 (-21.8 to -2.0)
Within 15 d-18.2 (-22.7 to -13.7)-12.4 (-24.2 to -0.5)
Within 30 d-13.5 (-17.9 to -9.1)1.1 (-10.5 to 12.8)

Note: CI = confidence interval.

*All discharges (n = 620 656) were included in the analysis. Adjusted for age, sex, time since enrolment with a primary care physician, geographical location, material and social deprivation quintile, resource utilization band, major diagnostic group, length of stay in hospital, relative intensity weight, number of previous admissions, time since previous discharge, characteristics of enrolling physician (sex, years in practice, income source, total number of patients), calendar year and hospital (see Appendix 4).

†Clustered bootstrap 95% CIs.