The Importance of Primary Care for Members
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), primary care is team-based care led by an accountable clinician such as a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant.
Meaningful engagement with a primary care team improves health outcomes by helping patients:
- Avoid unnecessary utilization. Primary care providers (PCPs) focus on preventive care and chronic disease management, which can identify potential health issues early so patients can avoid unnecessary emergency room visits or medical tests and have better outcomes.
- Access healthcare when needed. Patients who have a PCP can be seen and have their healthcare needs addressed more quickly through continuity of care and familiarity with their overall health status.
- Increase rate of cancer screening. Patients who have a PCP are more likely to follow through with routine screening recommendations, which can reduce the risk of future illnesses.
Premera is committed to connecting members with PCPs and may reach out to your office for medical record requests to help close clinical quality care gaps or assess chronic conditions for specific patients.
If you receive communication about patients who haven’t yet established care, this means you were identified as the designated PCP through patient selection or assignment. We encourage you to schedule regular visits with patients to help them stay healthy and coordinate care.
All providers, including specialists and other clinicians, should encourage patients to choose a PCP and have regular appointments, especially if they have chronic conditions.
References:
- Primary Care’s Effects on Costs in the US Veterans Health Administration, 2016–2019: an Observational Cohort Study. National Library of Medicine. PMC9550907. October 2021
- Quality and experience of outpatient care in the US for adults with and without primary care. Jamanetwork.com. January 2019.