As patients enter the healthcare system, primary care is typically their first stop. Because of this, primary care clinicians have a unique opportunity to develop relationships with patients and communities. This also enables them to get a glimpse of the hardships that a particular patient or group of patients is dealing with and see how that can affect their overall well-being. As the healthcare system, and primary care in particular, shifts away from a transactional system, to one more focused on high quality, comprehensive care, these outside factors that often play a significant role in patients’ lives must be accounted for.
The CDC defines health disparities as preventable differences in the burden of disease, injury, violence or opportunities to achieve optimal health that are experienced by socially disadvantaged populations. It defines the social determinants of health as conditions in the places where people live, learn, work, and play. While several of these factors or locations fall out of the traditional sphere of primary care, a well-organized and coordinated primary care team should have the resources to help patients beyond their medical needs.
Title | Source | Date |
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How Helping Patients Get Good Care At Home Helps Rural Hospitals Survive | Kaiser Health News | January 8, 2019 |
Hoping To See Your Doctor Via Telemedicine? Here’s A Quick Guide. | Kaiser Health News | May 9, 2018 |
Buyers Of Short-Term Health Plans: Wise Or Shortsighted? | Kaiser Health News | November 20, 2018 |
Study: Primary Care Doctors Increase Life Expectancy, But Does Anyone Care? | Forbes | April 8, 2019 |
Fewer Americans Have a Primary Care Doctor Now | U.S. News & World Report | December 17, 2019 |
Patients With Primary Care Docs May Get Better Health Care | U.S. News & World Report | February 4, 2019 |
New online resource assists safety-net primary care practice improvement | MedCity News | July 28, 2015 |
SC Healthy Outcome initiative focuses on frequent ER users | The State | October 7, 2013 |
Demography drives Medicare disparities | Healthcare Finance News | September 25, 2014 |
Trump aims to stem vet suicide with outreach, local grants | The Boston Globe | March 5, 2019 |