Primary Care
Primary Care
One of the biggest problems in the US Health system is that the primary care provider is not in control over the care process. Experts argue that the escalating cost of care in the US is being driven by a lack of emphasis during the several decades on a good infrastructure of primary care. The US healthcare system now has (spend on specialties vs. primary care 85%/15%) As a result, cost are escalating, without corresponding improvements in quality and outcomes.
According to Barbara
Starfield MD, recognized as an expert on the topic of primary care and the US
health system, there are four characteristics that will support an effective
health care system:
Accessibility: Today
patients struggle with basic access to providers. As a result we’re seeing escalating use of
high-cost, inefficient channels like emergency rooms.
Patient Centered:
Evidence indicates that we’ll achieve better outcomes when the patient
is the focus of the care process versus the disease.
Comprehensiveness: In
addition to focusing on the patient, better outcomes are achievable when the
primary care provider has responsibility and authority for a complete and
comprehensive overview of the patients care
Coordinated: The appropriate use of
specialists is essential to the care process and through coordination of the
pcp care outcomes can be optimized without inappropriately impacting cost.
Furthermore, these
characteristics have been identified in the concept of the “Joint Principles of
the Patient-Centered Medical Home, which defines the PCMH as having the
following characteristics: personal
physician, physician directed medical practice, whole person orientation, care
is coordinated and/or integrated, quality and safety, enhanced access and value
of payment.
At INNOVA HEALTH
SOLUTIONS, based upon the extensive healthcare industry experience of our team,
we believe firmly in the importance of placing the PCP in a leadership role in
the care process and many of the principles espoused by leading thinkers in
primary care.