Li YC – In this study, the investigator examined how healthcare outcomes and medical care use are influenced by the continuity of care among patients with newly diagnosed diabetes. Using the Taiwanese National Health Insurance database, 4,007 patients with newly diagnosed diabetes were followed for 3 years. The researcher defined medical care use as the number of hospital admissions, length of hospital stays, and number of emergency room visits. As per negative binomial regression models for medical resource use, the group with higher continuity of care index (COCI) scores vs the group with lower COCI scores had used fewer medical resources. Those in the high COCI group also had high usual provider continuity score. Findings thereby suggested that patients with newly diagnosed diabetes may have favorable healthcare outcomes and less medical care uses in correlation with the receipt of continuity of care. The researcher recommended enhancing long-term relationships between patients and healthcare providers to provide improved continuity of care.