The Need for Biomedically and Contextually Sound Care Plans in Complex Patients

Abstract

Letters2 November 2010The Need for Biomedically and Contextually Sound Care Plans in Complex PatientsRoger G. Kathol, MD and Mary H. Kathol, MDRoger G. Kathol, MDFrom Cartesian Solutions, Burnsville, MN 55337.Search for more papers by this author and Mary H. Kathol, MDFrom Cartesian Solutions, Burnsville, MN 55337.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-153-9-201011020-00018 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Weiner and colleagues (1) provide evidence that error-free treatment plans are rarely created for patients with biomedical and contextual complexity (9%) and are not commonly created for those with contextual (22%) or biomedical (38%) complexity alone. This is not surprising given that primary care physicians are already expected to devote 1.5 times their available patient contact hours to providing preventive, long-term care, and acute medical services (2). Nonetheless, implementing improved skills in error-free or, at least, error-reduced care plans for the complex 1% to 5% of patients who use one quarter to one half of health resources ...