Primary Care as Healthcare Infrastructure

The need to rehabilitate American infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and water systems is well recognized. These services are used daily by millions and impact the economy, health, and commerce of America. Likewise, primary care needs rehabilitation, investment, and much more public policy attention. Patients with high cost chronic conditions are more likely to see a primary care physician than a specialist physician. 1 The complexity of these visits continues to be under recognized and undervalued, endangering the health of the patient and the economic health of this nation.

It has been ten years since Dr. Donald Berwick, former administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services, promoted the concept of the Triple Aim, with obtainable goals of a) improving the patient healthcare experience, b) improving the health of the population writ large, and c) reducing costs.