Primary Care Provider Demographics and Engagement in Interprofessional Collaboration

Corresponding Author: Kylee A. Funk, PharmD, BCPS; University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy.

Email: kafunk@umn.edu

DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.2022.210463R1

Keywords: Demography, Gender Differences, Interdisciplinary Health Team, Linear Regression, Patient Care Team, Primary Health Care, Workforce

Dates: Submitted: 11-18-2021; Revised: 09-06-2022; Accepted: 09-09-2022

Status: Ahead of print: Available now. Final publication: February 2023

Ahead of Print:  | HTML |  | PDF |     Final Publication: | TBD |

INTRODUCTION: Interprofessional care contributes to all components of the quadruple aim. While previous research has identified many facilitators and barriers to the provision of interprofessional care, whether demographic differences might influence the extent to which providers collaborate interprofessionally remains unknown.

METHODS: Using electronic health record data, we characterized the level of primary care providers’ (PCP) interprofessional collaboration based on the percent of their patients who had a visit with an interprofessional team member (pharmacist, diabetes educator, a behavioral health specialist, or a care coordinator) over a 14-month period. We then obtained demographic data, including gender, years in practice, and provider type (nurse practitioner, physician, or physician assistant) from the electronic health record and publicly available sources. Subsequently, we used linear regression to predict the PCPs’ level of interprofessional collaboration based on demographic indicators.

RESULTS: During the study period, 324 PCPs had visits with 340,253 patients. The median of each PCP’s patients who had a visit with an interprofessional team member during the study period was 12.6%. After controlling for the average age of the PCP’s patient panel, the PCP’s years in practice, and the PCP’s clinic, when compared to male PCPs, approximately 2% more of patients cared for by female PCPs had a visit with an interprofessional team member (b =1.898, p<0.01).

CONCLUSION: Female providers are more likely to share their patients with an interprofessional team. 

ABSTRACTS IN PRESS