Multidimensional Geriatric Assessment: Back to the Future Early Effects of ‘‘Guided Care’’ on the Quality of Health Care for Multimorbid Older Persons: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

Methods. We hypothesized that GC would improve the quality of health care for this population. In 2006, we began a cluster-randomized controlled trial of GC at eight practices (n 1⁄4 49 physicians). Older patients of these practices were eligible to participate if they were at risk for using health services heavily during the coming year. Teams of two to five physicians and their at-risk older patients were randomized to either GC or usual care (UC). Six months after baseline, participants rated the quality of their health care by answering validated closed-ended questions from telephone interviewers who were masked to group assignment.