5269.0: Wednesday, November 15, 2000 - 5:30 PM

Abstract #16930

The Primary Care Provider Toolkit

Anthony L Schlaff, MD, MPH, Division of Public Health Practice, Harvard School of Public Health, 1552 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02120, 617-495-5000, anthony.schlaff.es.78@aya.yale.edu

The primary care provider toolkit will be developed for providers in order to provide guidance on collaboration with local communities and consumers to improve understanding of and access to primary care. The toolkit will also provide providers with analysis and recommendations on how they can work to reduce structural and cultural barriers that currently inhibit the use of primary care services. The toolkit will educate primary care providers on how to persuade consumers (either directly or through the media) that a relationship with a primary care provider will be of benefit to the consumer as they try to navigate the health care system. The toolkit will contain both substantive information and tools and techniques for persuasive communication. Substantive information will include what is known about the relationship of primary care to improved patient outcomes and satisfaction. The persuasive communication section will include an analysis of sources of consumer dissatisfaction with the health care system and of commonly held negative myths about primary care. The packet will also include suggested methods of addressing these consumer concerns and of reaching and working with media and policy makers to spread the message and "sell" primary care. The provider toolkit will be made available in written form and on the internet. An outline for a verbal presentation will also be prepared that will be suitable for academic presentations such as grand rounds.

Learning Objectives: At the end of the session, the attendee will be able to: 1. Describe the purpose of a "primary care provider toolkit" 2. Understand the information and skills that primary care providers need to advocate for support of the primary care model among consumers and health care policy makers

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.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA