PMC

Regression adjusted estimates of the impact of medium and high care density compared to low density on annual costs of care for patients with CHF and diabetes.

Simplified care density network map. Doctors are represented by circles (A to F). Four patients are represented by different types of lines (solid light, solid heavy, large dashed, and small dashed lines). Each patient saw 3 doctors (and thus 3 pairs of doctors). Doctors are connected to one another if they shared in the care of a patient. The weight (strength) of connections between pairs of doctors represents the number of shared patients: the doctor pair AD is given a weight of 3, pair DF a weight of 2, and pairs AB, BD, CD, DE, EF, and AF a weight of 1. For each patient, the care density represents the sum of the weights of his/her doctor pairs divided by the number of doctor pairs he/she sees.