Primary Care Visit Regularity and Patient Outcomes: an Observational Study

Evidence and Implications Behind a National Decline in Primary Care Visits

“…This decline is notable because many believe, and a growing literature supports, that primary care is key to improving health outcomes and stemming unsustainable cost growth in the USA. [1][2][3][4] In kind, policy leaders have worked to bolster primary care in a country that has invested less in this foundational specialty than its peers. 5,6 The Affordable Care Act increased PCP reimbursements and encouraged trainees to enter the field.…”

“…The USA already has lower physician visit rates than most other developed countries, 6 and we have more to learn about the Bright^visit frequency. 3,23 But in the meantime, the trend prompts us to rethink the role of primary care within the evolving ambulatory care landscape while preserving the fundamentals that led policymakers to bet on this field in the first place. For instance, one core function of primary care is to provide patients with care continuity-traditionally measured by in-person physician visits.…”

Health Care Expenditures Attributable to Primary Care Physician Overall and Burnout-Related Turnover: A Cross-sectional Analysis

“…Beyond efforts to reduce burnout, strategies to promote smoother transitions for patients when PCP turnover occurs (regardless of cause) could increase safety and reduce costs. 57,58 Although widespread, the current high levels of physician burnout are not inevitable. Interventions to improve practice efficiency, such as through advanced models of teambased care with in-room support, 59 can reduce burnout.…”

High school health education: The impact of medical student led instruction in northern Nevada high schools

“…Studies show that less than half of adolescents receive preventive care, and many do not visit a primary care provider ( Rand and Goldstein, 2018 ), a trend which was also observed in the classrooms where HNVP was presented. Regular primary care visits improve health outcomes as demonstrated by markers such as decreased emergency room visits, decreased hospitalizations, decreased healthcare costs, increased rates of vaccinations, and increased well-being for specific conditions like attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and more ( Rand and Goldstein, 2018 , Choque Olsson et al, 2017 , Rubinstein et al, 2018 , Rose et al, 2019 ). HNVP introduces key preventive health information, provides communication strategies, and stresses the importance of seeking healthcare.…”