scholarly journals The Impact of Primary Care: A Focused Review

Scientifica ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leiyu Shi

Primary care serves as the cornerstone in a strong healthcare system. However, it has long been overlooked in the United States (USA), and an imbalance between specialty and primary care exists. The objective of this focused review paper is to identify research evidence on the value of primary care both in the USA and internationally, focusing on the importance of effective primary care services in delivering quality healthcare, improving health outcomes, and reducing disparities. Literature searches were performed in PubMed as well as “snowballing” based on the bibliographies of the retrieved articles. The areas reviewed included primary care definitions, primary care measurement, primary care practice, primary care and health, primary care and quality, primary care and cost, primary care and equity, primary care and health centers, and primary care and healthcare reform. In both developed and developing countries, primary care has been demonstrated to be associated with enhanced access to healthcare services, better health outcomes, and a decrease in hospitalization and use of emergency department visits. Primary care can also help counteract the negative impact of poor economic conditions on health.

2021 ◽  
Vol 53 (10) ◽  
pp. 843-856
Author(s):  
Constance Gundacker ◽  
Tyler W. Barreto ◽  
Julie P. Phillips

Background and Objectives: Traumatic experiences such as abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction have a lifetime prevalence of 62%-75% and can negatively impact health outcomes. However, many primary care providers (PCPs) are inadequately prepared to treat patients with trauma due to a lack of training. Our objective was to identify trauma-informed approach curricula for PCPs, review their effectiveness, and identify gaps. Methods: We systematically identified articles from Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Academic Search Premier, Cochrane, PsycINFO, MedEd Portal, and the STFM Resource Library. Search term headings “trauma-informed care (TIC),” “resilience,” “patient-centered care,” “primary care,” and “education.” Inclusion criteria were PCP, pediatric and adult patients, and training evaluation. Exclusion criteria were outside the United States, non-English articles, non-PCPs, and inpatient settings. We used the TIC pyramid to extract topics. We analyzed evaluation methods using the Kirkpatrick Model. Results: Researchers reviewed 6,825 articles and identified 17 different curricula. Understanding health effects of trauma was the most common topic (94%). Evaluation data revealed overall positive reactions and improved knowledge, attitudes, and confidence. Half (53%) reported Kirkpatrick level 3 behavior change evaluation outcomes with increased trauma screening and communication, but no change in referrals. Only 12% (2/17) evaluated Kirkpatrick level 4 patient satisfaction (significant results) and health outcomes (not significant). Conclusions: Pilot findings from studies in our review show trauma-informed curricula for PCPs reveal positive reactions, an increase in knowledge, screening, communication, and patient satisfaction, but no change in referrals or health outcomes. Further research is needed to examine the impact of trainings on quality of care and health outcomes.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A. Samuels ◽  
Lilla Orr ◽  
Elizabeth B. White ◽  
Altaf Saadi ◽  
Aasim I. Padela ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveDetermine whether the 2017 “Muslim Ban” Executive Order impacted healthcare utilization by people born in Order-targeted nations living in the United States.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of people living in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN in 2016-2017 who were: 1) born in Order-targeted nations, 2) born in Muslim-majority nations not listed in the Order, and 3) born in the United States and non-Latinx. Primary outcomes were: 1) primary care visits, 2) missed primary care appointments, 3) primary care diagnoses for stress-responsive conditions, 4) emergency department visits, and 5) emergency department visits for stress-responsive diagnoses. We evaluated visit trends before and after Order issuance using linear regression and differences between study groups using a difference-in-difference analyses.ResultsIn early 2016, primary care visits and stress-responsive diagnoses increased among individuals from Muslim majority nations. Following the Order, there was an immediate increase in emergency department visits among individuals from Order-targeted nations.ConclusionsIncreases in healthcare utilization among people born in Muslim majority countries before and after the “Muslim Ban” likely reflect elevated cumulative stress including the impact of the Order.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. e0244054
Author(s):  
Nicholas A. Vernice ◽  
Nicola M. Pereira ◽  
Anson Wang ◽  
Michelle Demetres ◽  
Lisa V. Adams

Background Immigrants in the United States (US) today are facing a dynamic policy landscape. The Trump administration has threatened or curtailed access to basic services for 10.5 million undocumented immigrants currently in the US. We sought to examine the historical effects that punitive laws have had on health outcomes in US immigrant communities. Methods In this systematic review, we searched the following databases from inception–May 2020 for original research articles with no language restrictions: Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, Cochrane Library (Wiley), Web of Science Core Collection (Clarivate), CINAHL (EBSCO), and Social Work Abstracts (Ovid). This study is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42019138817. Articles with cohort sizes >10 that directly evaluated the health-related effects of a punitive immigrant law or policy within the US were included. Findings 6,357 studies were screened for eligibility. Of these, 32 studies were selected for inclusion and qualitatively synthesized based upon four themes that appeared throughout our analysis: (1) impact on healthcare utilization, (2) impact on women’s and children’s health, (3) impact on mental health services, and (4) impact on public health. The impact of each law, policy, mandate, and directive since 1990 is briefly discussed, as are the limitations and risk of bias of each study. Interpretation Many punitive immigrant policies have decreased immigrant access to and utilization of basic healthcare services, while instilling fear, confusion, and anxiety in these communities. The federal government should preserve and expand access for undocumented individuals without threat of deportation to improve health outcomes for US citizens and noncitizens.


2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (6) ◽  
pp. 440-443
Author(s):  
Amir Barzin ◽  
Olivia C. Seybold ◽  
Cristy Page

Background and Objectives: There has been a growth in the demand for convenient, walk-in access in health care across the United States, resulting in primary care practices seeing a shift in services to urgent care centers (UCCs). In order to incorporate the flexibility of a UCC and improve primary care access and preventive care for our regular patients, the University of North Carolina (UNC) Family Medicine Center (FMC) established a UCC within the practice. This report describes that process and the impact of the new UCC on our academic practice. Methods: With the support of the UNC health care system, our primary objectives were to provide enhanced access for patients with acute problems, decrease emergency department (ED) utilization, and increase enrollment of new patients for ongoing primary care. As part of our intervention, we asked providers to respond to a series of questions at the end of each visit. These questions, along with data regarding number of visits and revenue, were tracked longitudinally. Results: By the end of our first year, we were treating about 900 patients per month, of which approximately one-third would have otherwise visited the ED. We averaged 115 new patients establishing care per quarter. In addition to the success of this new service line, our primary practice maintained provider continuity and grew at a higher rate than prior to opening the UCC. Conclusions: The opening of urgent care at the UNC FMC provided improved access for our patients, increased the number of patients empaneled in our primary care practice, and provided a new revenue stream.


2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 228-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ankie C.M. Hazen ◽  
Antoinette A. de Bont ◽  
Lia Boelman ◽  
Dorien L.M. Zwart ◽  
Johan J. de Gier ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 774-774
Author(s):  
David Rein ◽  
Madeleine Hackney ◽  
Michele Dougherty ◽  
Camille Vaughan ◽  
Laurie Imhof ◽  
...  

Abstract The STEADI Options trial uses a randomized, controlled-trial design to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the STEADI Initiative . Beginning March, 2020, we will randomize 3,000 adults ≥ 65 years of age at risk for falls seen in an Emory Clinic primary care practice to: (1) full STEADI; (2) a STEADI-derived gait, balance, and strength assessment with physical therapy referrals; (3) a STEADI-derived medication review and management; or (4) usual care. This presentation will discuss decisions made by the study team to facilitate implementation of STEADI including electronically conducting screening prior to the date of encounter, the use of dedicated nursing staff to conduct assessments, implementation of strength, balance, orthostatic hypotension, and vision testing, methods to facilitate medication review, and communication of assessment information to providers. The results from this study will be used to estimate the impact of STEADI on falls, service utilization, and costs over one year.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. e043863
Author(s):  
Jingyuan Wang ◽  
Ke Tang ◽  
Kai Feng ◽  
Xin Lin ◽  
Weifeng Lv ◽  
...  

ObjectivesWe aim to assess the impact of temperature and relative humidity on the transmission of COVID-19 across communities after accounting for community-level factors such as demographics, socioeconomic status and human mobility status.DesignA retrospective cross-sectional regression analysis via the Fama-MacBeth procedure is adopted.SettingWe use the data for COVID-19 daily symptom-onset cases for 100 Chinese cities and COVID-19 daily confirmed cases for 1005 US counties.ParticipantsA total of 69 498 cases in China and 740 843 cases in the USA are used for calculating the effective reproductive numbers.Primary outcome measuresRegression analysis of the impact of temperature and relative humidity on the effective reproductive number (R value).ResultsStatistically significant negative correlations are found between temperature/relative humidity and the effective reproductive number (R value) in both China and the USA.ConclusionsHigher temperature and higher relative humidity potentially suppress the transmission of COVID-19. Specifically, an increase in temperature by 1°C is associated with a reduction in the R value of COVID-19 by 0.026 (95% CI (−0.0395 to −0.0125)) in China and by 0.020 (95% CI (−0.0311 to −0.0096)) in the USA; an increase in relative humidity by 1% is associated with a reduction in the R value by 0.0076 (95% CI (−0.0108 to −0.0045)) in China and by 0.0080 (95% CI (−0.0150 to −0.0010)) in the USA. Therefore, the potential impact of temperature/relative humidity on the effective reproductive number alone is not strong enough to stop the pandemic.


Author(s):  
Jason Reece

Housing quality, stability, and affordability have a direct relationship to socioemotional and physical health. Both city planning and public health have long recognized the role of housing in health, but the complexity of this relationship in regard to infant and maternal health is less understood. Focusing on literature specifically relevant to U.S. metropolitan areas, I conduct a multidisciplinary literature review to understand the influence of housing factors and interventions that impact infant and maternal health. The paper seeks to achieve three primary goals. First, to identify the primary “pathways” by which housing influences infant and maternal health. Second, the review focuses on the role and influence of historical housing discrimination on maternal health outcomes. Third, the review identifies emergent practice-based housing interventions in planning and public health practice to support infant and maternal health. The literature suggests that the impact of housing on infant health is complex, multifaceted, and intergenerational. Historical housing discrimination also directly impacts contemporary infant and maternal health outcomes. Policy interventions to support infant health through housing are just emerging but demonstrate promising outcomes. Structural barriers to housing affordability in the United States will require new resources to foster greater collaboration between the housing and the health sectors.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ka Chun Chong ◽  
Hong Fung ◽  
Carrie Ho Kwan Yam ◽  
Patsy Yuen Kwan Chau ◽  
Tsz Yu Chow ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The elderly healthcare voucher (EHCV) scheme is expected to lead to an increase in the number of elderly people selecting private primary healthcare services and reduce reliance on the public sector in Hong Kong. However, studies thus far have reported that this scheme has not received satisfactory responses. In this study, we examined changes in the ratio of visits between public and private doctors in primary care (to measure reliance on the public sector) for different strategic scenarios in the EHCV scheme. Methods Based on comments from an expert panel, a system dynamics model was formulated to simulate the impact of various enhanced strategies in the scheme: increasing voucher amounts, lowering the age eligibility, and designating vouchers for chronic conditions follow-up. Data and statistics for the model calibration were collected from various sources. Results The simulation results show that the current EHCV scheme is unable to reduce the utilization of public healthcare services, as well as the ratio of visits between public and private primary care among the local aging population. When comparing three different tested scenarios, even if the increase in the annual voucher amount could be maintained at the current pace or the age eligibility can be lowered to include those aged 60 years, the impact on shifts from public-to-private utilization were insignificant. The public-to-private ratio could only be marginally reduced from 0.74 to 0.64 in the first several years. Nevertheless, introducing a chronic disease-oriented voucher could result in a significant drop of 0.50 in the public-to-private ratio during the early implementation phase. However, the effect could not be maintained for an extended period. Conclusions Our findings will assist officials in improving the design of the EHCV scheme, within the wider context of promoting primary care among the elderly. We suggest that an additional chronic disease-oriented voucher can serve as an alternative strategy. The scheme must be redesigned to address more specific objectives or provide a separate voucher that promotes under-utilized healthcare services (e.g., preventive care), instead of services designed for unspecified reasons, which may lead to concerns regarding exploitation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S151-S152
Author(s):  
Maureen E Barrientos ◽  
Anna Chodos ◽  
Alicia Neumann ◽  
Yvonne Troya ◽  
Pei Chen

Abstract Currently, an important measure of Advance Care Planning (ACP), Advance Health Care Directives (AHCD) documentation rate, is at 33% for older adults in the United States. To address this disparity, geriatric faculty in an academic geriatric primary care practice aimed to train geriatrics fellows and other interprofessional (IP) learners to engage patients in ACP. As part of a Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration, geriatrics faculty and the Medical Legal Partnership for Seniors based at University of California Hastings College of Law provided ACP training to fellows and IP learners, including social work interns. In practice, the fellows and social work interns collaborated to incorporate ACP into patient visits and follow-up telephone calls. To monitor ACP progress, research staff reviewed patients’ electronic health records and performed descriptive analysis of the data. In 21 months, 4 geriatrics fellows built a panel of 59 patients who on average had 3 office visits and 7 telephone calls per person. Prior to clinic enrollment, 12 (20.3%) patients had preexisting AHCD, and 47 lacked AHCD documentation. After ACP intervention, 42 of 47 patients without AHCD documentation engaged in ACP discussion. Of those who engaged in ACP discussion, 24 completed AHCD, raising AHCD completion rate to 61%, or 36 patients in the panel of 59. ACP is a complex process that benefits from skilled communication among interprofessional providers and patients. Findings underscore the potential advantages of IP training and engaging patients in ACP discussion in an academic primary care setting.


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