The impact of primary health care reform on hospital emergency department overcrowding: Evidence from the Portuguese reform

Context The reduction in inappropriate utilization of hospitals' emergency departments (EDs) is usually an important objective of primary health care (PHC) reforms. Existing literature provides mixed evidence on the effectiveness of PHC reforms in reducing inappropriate utilization of ED. We assess whether the specific PHC reforms ongoing in Portugal since 2005, and in particular the creation of family health units (FHUs), were successful in reducing inappropriate utilization of EDs and provide a contribution to the debate of which PHC models contribute to reduce overuse of EDs. Methods We use patient‐level data of 117 391 ED visits from two nonurban hospitals in Portugal to estimate a multivariate logistic regression that assesses the impact of different PHC models on inappropriate ED visits. Patients in our sample had four different models of PHC provision: the new FHU type A or type B and the old personalized health care units (PHUs), with or without a specific family physician assigned. Results The percentage of episodes that correspond to appropriate visits to the ED is 2% higher for patients enrolled in an FHU type B and 0.8% higher for users of FHU type A, when compared with users enrolled in PHU. Having an assigned family physician increases appropriate use of the ED by 1%. Conclusion Portugal's PHC reform was successful in reducing inappropriate utilization of EDs.