Good Intentions Aren't Good Enough: Connecting Patients to Supports to Address Social Determinants of Health
How can social needs be integrated into clinical care? Lower socioeconomic status is strongly linked to poor health outcomes, which often persist even among those with coverage and access to care. Many parts of the health care system have embarked on "upstream" interventions to connect patients to resources and supports. What's working so far and what needs improvement? Join us as we tackle these questions and more.
Leading edge employers and health plans are investing in innovative, whole-person primary care models for employees and their families. The pandemic forced changes as work and care went virtual, demand for behavioral health services increased, and routine preventive care and chronic care were sidelined. Watch PCC's May 2023 webinar to hear innovative practices, employers, and health plans discuss what it takes to build and sustain advanced primary care. We are joined by Aetna, Crossover Health, Morgan Health, and Blue Shield of California.
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s landmark report, Implementing High-Quality Primary Care, recommends "all individuals should have the opportunity to have a usual source of primary care” and suggests a role for payers in making this a reality. When patients are matched to a primary care practice or individual, preventive and pro-active care, care coordination, and trusted relationships are possible.
Robert Pearl, MD, is a former CEO of The Permanente Medical Group who has written two books on the dysfunction of health care. Mistreated: Why We Think We’re Getting Good Health Care—And Why We’re Usually Wrong focuses on the systemic issues of the healthcare system that result in poor health outcomes. Uncaring: How the Culture of Medicine Kills Doctors & Patients focuses on the culture and how it undermines physician-patient relationships and causes other harm.
As millions of people across the country roll up their sleeves to receive COVID-19 shots, many sectors are also rolling up their sleeves and getting to work in this massive undertaking. Primary care has very much been in the mix—answering patient questions, helping to overcome vaccine hesitancy and beginning to administer the vaccines. We have the experience, assets and skills to help meet the country’s vaccine goals. But for widespread immunity to happen rapidly and efficiently, it will take coordination and cooperation by primary care and other sectors.
In its broadest look yet at primary care spending, the PCC analyzed spending over time, nationally and in all 50 states, and published the results in its annual evidence-based report for 2020 (released December 2020). The report reveals some alarming trends: The U.S. health system’s investment in primary care is low and declined between 2017 and 2019, both nationally and in a majority of states.
