This paper will address the current state of knowledge and identify the future research agenda defining the relationship of primary care to outcomes. Outcomes of interest include accepted measures of the quality of care, health status of individuals, and health status of populations. The paper will also include an assessment of the relationship between primary care and health care costs at the individual and population level. Attributes of primary care that can be assessed include care delivered at first contact, care delivered in the community, and care delivered by multidisciplinary teams. Other attributes of primary care of interest include the degree to which care is comprehensive, coordinated, accessible, and patient-centered. The paper is written with the intent to establish a future agenda for primary care by providing a state-of-the-art assessment of current research supporting primary care and linking primary care to improved outcomes. The paper will describe the future research agenda necessary to advance the acceptance of primary care in the United States.
Learning Objectives: At the end of the session, the attendee will be able to: 1. Understand the current status of health services research linking primary care models to health status outcomes 2. Describe critical research issues that can be addressed in the next decade to better understand the role that primary care models can play in improving health outcomes
Keywords: Primary Care,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.