Medical Home News, July 2015
Recent legislative initiatives and the introduction of new incentives via the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are mandating new approaches to primary care. The impact of the ACA has been both immediate and sizeable, with nearly 15 million additionally insured U.S. citizens now seeking healthcare services.
This sudden influx is driving the need for more primary care providers (PCPs) as a more cost-effective alternative to specialists and emergency room visits. The reality, however, is that there are simply fewer doctors practicing primary care today because it is typically less lucrative (Medscape’s most recent annual physician compensation survey reports that PCPs make 45 percent less than specialists).
Since there is a greater influx of patients into PCP practices, PCPs will be required to participate in efforts geared towards remote health monitoring, coordination of care and population health. There is a growing need for tools that can significantly improve the efficiency and productivity of PCPs, without sacrificing quality and level of healthcare.
Read more at Medical Home News July 2015 edition