Communities With More Primary Care Docs Have Lower Mortality

Every 10 additional primary care physicians per 100,000 population was associated with a 51.5 day increase in life expectancy, according to a study published Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Using that same metric, an increase in 10 specialist physicians per 100,000 population corresponded to a 19.2-day increase in life expectancy, the study found.

By linking mortality rates with the numbers of primary care physicians, the Stanford University research supports the validity of population health initiatives that emphasize and rely upon access to primary care.