Shared Principles of Primary Care

Coordinated & Integrated

Person & Family Centered

Comprehensive & Equitable

Shared Principles of Primary Care

Team-Based & Collaborative

Accessible

Continuous

High Value

See also:

Attributes of Advanced Primary Care

Primary care is widely acknowledged to be essential for better health and wellbeing in the U.S. healthcare system and should be foundational to all health care systems worldwide (WHO, 2008) (IOM, 1994) (Starfield, 1992). Access to high-quality primary care can help people live longer, feel better, and avoid disability (Commonwealth Fund, 2013).

Primary care has experienced significant changes in the way it is organized, financed and delivered in response to greater demand for high-quality services, rising health care costs, and increasing burden of disease across populations (Bitton et al 2016). Concepts such as the Patient Centered Medical Home emerged to describe a more advanced model of primary care. Based on lessons learned over the past decade and the continued rapid pace of change, the time is right to revisit the future of primary care. 

Realizing the ideal vision of primary care occurs faster when all stakeholders can speak with one voice. These Shared Principles--developed by stakeholders representing all aspects of health care-- are designed to move the United States toward a vibrant future of person-centered, team-based, community aligned primary care that will help achieve the goals of better health, better care, and lower costs. Achieving this future requires a common vision as well as appropriate payment, investment, training, workforce and other resources to support it.

1. Person- & Family-Centered

• Primary care is focused on the whole person - their physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual well-being, as well as cultural, linguistic and social needs.
• Primary care is grounded in mutually beneficial partnerships among clinicians, staff, individuals and their families, as equal members of the care team. Care delivery is customized based on individual and family strengths, preferences, values, goals and experiences using strategies such as care planning and shared decision  making.
• Individuals are supported in determining how their family or other care partners may be involved in decision making and care.
• There are opportunities for individuals and their families to shape the design, operation and evaluation of care delivery.

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2. Continuous

• Dynamic, trusted, respectful and enduring relationships between individuals, families and their clinical team members are hallmarks of primary care. There is continuity in relationships and in knowledge of the individual and their family/care partners that provides perspective and context throughout all stages of life including end of life care.  

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3. Comprehensive and Equitable

• Primary care addresses the whole person with appropriate clinical and supportive services that include acute, chronic and preventive care, behavioral and mental health, oral health, health promotion and more. Each primary care practice will decide how to provide these services in their clinics and/or in collaboration with other clinicians outside the clinic.
• Primary care providers seek out the impact of social determinants of health and societal inequities. Care delivery is tailored accordingly.
• Primary care practices partner with health and community-based organizations to promote population health and health equity, including making inequities visible and identifying avenues for solutions.

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4. Team-Based and Collaborative

• Interdisciplinary teams, including individuals and families, work collaboratively and dynamically toward a common goal. The services they provide and the coordinated manner in which they work together are synergistic to better health.
• Health care professional members of the team are trained to work together at the top of their skill set, according to clearly defined roles and responsibilities. They are also trained in leadership skills, as well as how to partner with individuals and families, based on their priorities and needs.

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5. Coordinated and Integrated

• Primary care integrates the activities of those involved in an individual’s care, across settings and services.
• Primary care proactively communicates across the spectrum of care and collaborators, including individuals and their families/care partners.
• Primary care helps individuals and families/care partners navigate the guidance and recommendations they receive from other clinicians and professionals, including supporting and respecting those who want to facilitate their own care coordination.
• Primary care is actively engaged in transitions of care to achieve better health and seamless care delivery across the life span.

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6. Accessible

• Primary care is readily accessible, both in person and virtually for all individuals regardless of linguistic, literacy, socioeconomic, cognitive or physical barriers. As the first source of care, clinicians and staff are available and responsive when, where and how individuals and families need them.
• Primary care facilitates access to the broader health care system, acting as a gateway to high-value care and community resources.
• Primary care provides individuals with easy, routine access to their health information.

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7. High-Value

• Primary care achieves excellent, equitable outcomes for individuals and families, including using health care resources wisely and considering costs to patients, payers and the system.
• Primary care practices employ a systematic approach to measuring, reporting and improving population health, quality, safety and health equity, including partnering with individuals, families and community groups.
• Primary care practices deliver exceptionally positive experiences for individuals, families, staff and clinicians.

The vision outlined in these Shared Principles of Primary Care will result in excellent outcomes for individuals and families, and more satisfying and sustainable careers for clinicians and staff. It is a vision that is aspirational yet achievable when stakeholders work together. 

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