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

Older adults embrace digital health portals despite billing concerns

When today's older adults were growing up, the only way to get information to your doctor or their clinic was a phone call. And getting more than a simple answer probably meant going in for an appointment.

4 Apr 2025

Cedars-Sinai study reveals distinct roles for AI and physicians in virtual care

Do physicians or artificial intelligence (AI) offer better treatment recommendations for patients examined through a virtual urgent care setting? A new Cedars-Sinai study shows physicians and AI models have distinct strengths.

4 Apr 2025

Study exposes huge levels untargeted antibiotic prescribing

Doctors are prescribing antibiotics for tens of thousands of patients with infections, with little or no consideration of prognosis and the risk of the infection worsening, according to a new study led by University of Manchester epidemiologists.

3 Apr 2025

New cystic fibrosis newborn screening guidelines aim for equitable detection

The United States Cystic Fibrosis Foundation released the first guideline on newborn screening for cystic fibrosis (CF), in order to improve timely detection of CF in infants from all racial and ethnic backgrounds.

3 Apr 2025

Study finds clues to hypertension hidden in electronic health records

A new study from investigators at Mass General Brigham shows that clues about hypertension may be buried in electronic health records (EHR).

1 Apr 2025

Study finds high rates of undiagnosed and untreated peripheral artery disease

A new Intermountain Health study finds that peripheral artery disease, a condition that affects more than 10 million Americans over the age of 40, is often underdiagnosed and undertreated, with fewer women getting guideline-directed medical therapy than men.

31 Mar 2025

Atrial fibrillation elevates early-onset dementia risk in younger adults

New research presented at the EHRA 2025, a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology, shows that the presence of atrial fibrillation (AF) increases the risk of future dementia by 21% in patients diagnosed with AF under 70 and the risk of early-onset dementia (diagnosed before age 65 years) by 36%.

31 Mar 2025

WARRIOR trial finds no impact of intensive therapy on heart events in women

An intensive three-drug regimen of heart medications did not significantly impact the rate of serious cardiovascular events at five years in women who experienced signs and symptoms of ischemia, or insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle, but had no blockages in their heart's arteries, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session.

29 Mar 2025

Gender affirming hormone therapy reduces HIV risk for transgender people

Transgender people receiving gender-affirming hormone therapy have a 37% lower chance of acquiring HIV, and for people living with HIV, hormone therapy appears to offer a 44% lower chance of the virus remaining detectable in blood, according to a University of Michigan study.

27 Mar 2025

Addressing cardiovascular risk factors in emerging adulthood

Many teenagers enter adulthood with significant risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and the transition from adolescence to adulthood is a key time to address these risk factors and reduce the risk of developing future cardiovascular disease, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

26 Mar 2025

Oklahoma researcher uses technology to combat alcohol use disorder in primary care

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 7 adults in the United States will experience a substance use disorder during their lifetime. University of Oklahoma College of Medicine faculty member Brandi Fink, Ph.D., is working with primary care clinics and health care systems to identify people with an alcohol use disorder and intervene early before the problem worsens.

25 Mar 2025

High-performing clinics share effective strategies for chronic care follow-up

Regular follow-up visits are critical for managing chronic conditions, yet some primary care clinics achieve higher visit regularity than others.

24 Mar 2025

Disparities identified in treatment of chlamydia and gonorrhea in primary care

Prompt treatment of chlamydia and gonorrhea following a confirmed diagnosis is essential to prevent complications and reduce transmission. Adherence to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) treatment guidelines in primary care settings remains a concern.

24 Mar 2025

More chest X-rays in GP practices lead to better lung cancer survival rates

A groundbreaking study has revealed a significant link between the frequency of chest x-ray referrals from GPs and earlier diagnosis and improved survival rates for lung cancer patients.

24 Mar 2025

Patients value trust and continuity over quick access to primary care

This study focuses on how primary care patients balance the trade-off between continuity of care and access to timely appointments.

24 Mar 2025

Study reveals gaps in lung cancer screening despite updated guidelines

Since 2021, when lung cancer screening guidelines began to include younger people and those with a lower smoking history, the number of screenings climbed, but significant gaps remain, especially among people with limited access to healthcare, according to a new study led by researchers at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

20 Mar 2025

Restricting telehealth prescriptions for opioid use disorder could undermine recovery

Weill Cornell Medicine researchers found that restricting telehealth prescriptions for opioid use disorder could keep thousands from accessing buprenorphine, a medication that helps people recover from addiction.

20 Mar 2025

Colorectal cancer patients face increased risk of cardiovascular death

People diagnosed with colorectal cancer are significantly more likely to die of cardiovascular causes than the general population, especially in the first two years after their cancer diagnosis and in people younger than 50, according to a study being presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session (ACC.25).

20 Mar 2025

Amid plummeting diversity at medical schools, a warning of DEI crackdown’s ‘chilling effect’

The Trump administration's crackdown on DEI programs could exacerbate an unexpectedly steep drop in diversity among medical school students, even in states like California, where public universities have been navigating bans on affirmative action for decades.

20 Mar 2025

Research shows only half of emergency visits align with doctor’s assessment

Emergency departments in the United States have more than 140 million visits each year - a rate of four visits for every 10 people - that cost nearly $80 billion.

20 Mar 2025