In recent years, the number of Americans who have an ongoing relationship with a primary care physician has dropped by an estimated 25%. Research indicates that people with a primary care physician had better access to health care and were more likely to receive high-value care services, such as preventive screenings. This can lead to fewer costly hospitalizations and emergency room visits, which may help save money and pain in the long run.
t should come as no surprise that during the COVID-19 pandemic some people may have been reluctant to go to the doctor’s office for routine checkups and nonemergency care. As
a result, COVID-19 has contributed to an existing decline in primary care visits — a trend that may contribute to poor health outcomes and higher health care costs.
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Through annual checkups, preventive screenings, routine care and chronic condition management, primary care physicians may help people more conveniently and affordably meet their day-to-day health care needs. A primary care physician often serves as a point person to help people manage their health, potentially identifying risk factors for disease, helping manage chronic conditions and coordinating with other care specialists.
“Typically, primary care physicians serve as the first contact for people as they navigate the health system,” said Dr. Donna O’Shea, chief medical officer of population health management for UnitedHealthcare, one of the nation’s largest health care companies. “In fact, people with a relationship with a primary care physician report better care access and experiences with the health care system as compared to people without. All of this may add up to improved well-being and quality of life.”
It may add up to savings, as well. According to one study, people with access to a primary care physician showed a 33% reduction in annual health care costs compared to those who did not have such access.
What can you do if you don’t already have a primary care physician? Finding the right care professional and setting is important, given more expensive options may not generally translate to improved health outcomes. To help find the right fit, you can compare publicly available patient-authored reviews online. For a more detailed analysis, health plans such as UnitedHealthcare offer online and mobile resources that rate physicians based on standardized measures for quality and cost efficiency. While recent federal regulations have encouraged price disclosures from hospitals, UnitedHealthcare’s quality and cost transparency resources provide estimates for more than 820 common medical services across 600 episodes of care to help provide a view of what people may expect throughout the course of treatment.
Primary care is a bedrock of our nation’s health system and is a vital touch point, especially for seniors and those managing chronic conditions. Primary care professionals represent a key resource to help provide various types of care, including to help prevent illness and detect disease as early as possible.
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In terms of access to primary care, the pandemic has helped broaden the use of virtual care. Thanks to smartphones, tablets and laptop computers, physicians may be able to see patients remotely, to help provide people with added convenience and privacy. Compared to 2019, the use of virtual care by UnitedHealthcare members increased by more than 2,500%, helping people access services ranging from urgent care to preventive screenings to management of chronic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes.
“This is especially important amid COVID-19, as many people continue to avoid in-person interactions when possible,” said Dr. Lee. “Also, in general, accessing medical services virtually is more cost-effective than urgent care or the emergency room. Virtual appointments may even be more affordable in some cases, with little or no cost-sharing for consumers.”
A recent UnitedHealthcare survey found that 1 in 4 respondents actually preferred a virtual relationship with a primary care physician rather than in-person visits. And 63% of patients who see a doctor virtually reported no difference in the quality of the visit compared to an in-person appointment.
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Primary care may be a key to long-term health and well-being
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Rise of virtual primary care
people prefer a virtual relationship with a primary care physician rather than in-person visits.
of physicians using virtual care said it improved access to medical services for patients.
1 in 4
93%
of those who see a doctor virtually report no difference in the quality of the visit, compared to an in-person appointment.
63%
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JAMA Network, 2019, https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2721037
American Journal of Managed Care, 2019, https://www.ajmc.com/view/patient-and-clinician-experiences-with-telehealth-for-patient-followup-care
UnitedHealthcare Consumer Sentiment Survey, 2020, https://newsroom.uhc.com/2020-consumer-survey.html
American Well, 2019, https://business.amwell.com/resources/telehealth-index-2019-physician-survey
American Journal of Managed Care, 2019, https://www.ajmc.com/view/patient-and-clinician-experiences-with-telehealth-for-patient-followup-care
Dr. Tim Lee, chief medical officer, UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement of California
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“Given the potential convenience and affordability, we expect virtual care to become increasingly popular,” said Dr. Lee. “This technology represents an important way to help more Americans establish, or reestablish, a relationship with health care providers.”
And that relationship with a primary care provider may be a key to maintaining and improving your well-being.
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J Fam Prac, 1998, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9722797/
JAMA Network, 2019, https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2757495?resultClick=3
JAMA Network, 2019, https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2721037
J Fam Prac, 1998, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9722797/
JAMA Network, 2019, https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2721037
J Fam Prac, 1998, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9722797/
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go to the doctor’s office for routine checkups and nonemergency care. As a result, COVID-19 has contributed to an existing decline in primary care visits — a trend that may contribute to poor health outcomes and higher health care costs.
t should come as no surprise that during the COVID-19 pandemic some people may have been reluctant to