Primary care in the age of reform-not a time for complacency

Fam Med. 2014 Jan;46(1):7-10.

Abstract

Improving opportunities for primary care are evident in the evolving health care marketplace. Yet a secure and meaningfully scaled role in the future for family medicine and primary care is not assured. Family medicine can help lead the primary care movement now-from both clinical and policy perspectives-by energetically embracing newly emerging care options rather than becoming complacent or defensive. Avoiding complacency means: (1) improving assessment and intervention for social and health system complexity (our complex patients), (2) regarding primary care as a way of operating, not as a geographical place-even with the name medical home in place, (3) coordinating with dedicated mobile teams for our most complex and costly patients, and (4) improving leadership competence at a level required for transformation, not just maintenance.

MeSH terms

  • Delivery of Health Care / methods*
  • Delivery of Health Care / organization & administration
  • Family Practice* / standards
  • Health Care Reform*
  • Health Policy
  • Humans
  • Leadership
  • Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care
  • Patient-Centered Care
  • Primary Health Care* / standards