Primary Care

Primary care is the initial point of contact between a patient and the healthcare system that provides individuals with access to the information and resources they need for optimal health outcomes.

What is Primary Care?

Primary care is the initial point of contact between a patient and the healthcare system that provides individuals with access to the information and resources they need for optimal health outcomes.

Choosing a Primary Care Provider

Benefits of Primary Health Care

Strategies to Improve Shortage of Primary Health Care

Benefits of Primary Care Intervention

Multidisciplinary Primary Care Teams

Effective Communication in Primary Care Teams

Latest Primary Care News and Research

Study uncovers causal genetic variant strongly associated with childhood obesity

Researchers from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) have identified a causal genetic variant strongly associated with childhood obesity.

2 May 2024

Simple blood test could allow doctors to determine a person’s risk for stroke or cognitive decline

A simple blood test could allow doctors to determine whether a person may be at higher risk for stroke or cognitive decline during their lifetime, according to a new UCLA Health study.

2 May 2024

Survey highlights misconceptions on sun protection and skin cancer prevention

A new national survey by the Orlando Health Cancer Institute finds nearly a third (32%) of Americans agree that a tan makes people look better and healthier, a dangerous beauty standard that experts say can lead to risky behavior when it comes to sun exposure.

2 May 2024

Atrial fibrillation linked to high mortality and hospitalization rates, UQ study shows

Forty-five per cent of patients admitted to hospital for atrial fibrillation (AF) in Australia and New Zealand die within a decade, according to University of Queensland research.

29 Apr 2024

Georgetown study raises concerns over aspirin's role in breast cancer treatment

A new study examining the role of aspirin in breast cancer treatment reveals critical issues related to health equity and aging that have broad implications for cancer and other disease intervention trials, say researchers from Georgetown University's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.

29 Apr 2024

Study finds major gaps in cancer screening use in Federally Qualified Health Centers

A national study led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and The University of New Mexico (UNM) Comprehensive Cancer Center found major gaps in breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening use in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in the U.S., relative to overall screening rates in the country.

29 Apr 2024

Keck Medicine of USC expands to Las Vegas for transplant care

More than 660 Nevadans need an organ transplant, according to Nevada Organ Network, a federally designated organ procurement organization; but many currently struggle to access care because of limited transplant services available in Nevada.

26 Apr 2024

Study shows link between air pollution, stress, and heart health risk

A study in more than 3,000 US counties, with 315 million residents, has suggested that air pollution is linked with stress and depression, putting under-65-year-olds at increased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.

26 Apr 2024

Are parental psychiatric disorders related to the risk of autism spectrum disorder in the offspring?

The potential association between psychiatric disorders in parents and the risk of the offspring developing autism spectrum disorder.

26 Apr 2024

Breast cancer survivors at higher risk of developing second cancers

Survivors of breast cancer are at significantly higher risk of developing second cancers, including endometrial and ovarian cancer for women and prostate cancer for men, according to new research studying data from almost 600,000 patients in England.

24 Apr 2024

CASGEVY gene therapy eliminates vaso-occlusive crises in sickle cell patients

In a landmark study, an international consortium led by researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) published the final results of a key clinical trial of the gene therapy CASGEVY (exagamglogene autotemcel) for the treatment of sickle cell disease in patients 12 years and older with recurrent vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs).

24 Apr 2024

PCORI funds more than $150 million to support new patient-centered clinical effectiveness research

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) today announced the approval of funding awards totaling more than $150 million to support new patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER) studies, research to strengthen the rigor and quality of patient-centered CER and a project to implement the findings of PCORI-funded research into practice.

23 Apr 2024

Unveiling how community pharmacies aid smoking cessation efforts

A new study shows community pharmacies may play a key role in helping people quit smoking.

23 Apr 2024

Risks of antipsychotic use in dementia extend beyond previous alerts, study shows

Antipsychotic use in people with dementia is associated with higher risks of a wide range of serious health outcomes compared with non-use, according to a new study from a collaboration across the Universities of Manchester, Nottingham, Edinburgh and Dundee.

23 Apr 2024

Large-scale study identifies new approach to early Alzheimer's detection

Digital memory test and a blood sample - this combination will be tested for its potential to identify early Alzheimer's disease in a new research study. Over a hundred healthcare centers are part of the study that is now inviting participants to sign up. At least 3,000, preferably many more participants are needed for the study to be successful.

23 Apr 2024

Modest effects on child development from COVID-19, Johns Hopkins study shows

Infants and children 5 years old and younger experienced only "modest" delays in developmental milestones due to the COVID-19 pandemic disruptions and restrictions, a study led by Johns Hopkins Children's Center finds.

22 Apr 2024

Study shows antipsychotic drugs increase health risks in dementia patients

Study found that antipsychotic drug use in dementia patients is linked to increased risks of stroke, heart failure, and other serious conditions.

18 Apr 2024

ChatGPT shows promise in polypharmacy management

Polypharmacy, or the concurrent use of five or more medications, is common in older adults and increases the risk of adverse drug interactions.

18 Apr 2024

Medicare’s push to improve chronic care attracts businesses, but not many doctors

Carrie Lester looks forward to the phone call every Thursday from her doctors' medical assistant, who asks how she's doing and if she needs prescription refills. The assistant counsels her on dealing with anxiety and her other health issues.

18 Apr 2024

Antipsychotics for dementia associated with elevated risks of serious adverse outcomes

Antipsychotic use in people with dementia is associated with elevated risks of a wide range of serious adverse outcomes including stroke, blood clots, heart attack, heart failure, fracture, pneumonia, and acute kidney injury, compared with non-use, finds a study published by The BMJ today.

17 Apr 2024