Maximizing the Benefits of Primary Care: The Importance of Building a Provider-Patient Relationship

Over 2,000 years ago, the Roman poet Virgil said, “The greatest wealth is health.” This remains true today and having a trusted healthcare partner can make all the difference. That’s where primary care providers (PCPs) come in. PCPs, including general practitioners (GPs), family doctors, and nurse practitioners (NPs), are at the heart of our healthcare system and are foundational for healthy communities.  

Ideally, primary care would be utilized first, most often, and would feature built-in care navigation. Unfortunately, studies show that primary care utilization has been declining due to accessibility issues. The current fee-for-service (FFS) model is leading to increased levels of burnout among physicians and contributing to many doctors leaving the healthcare industry. In fact, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) predicts a shortage of between 17,800 and 48,000 primary care physicians by 2034.   

Primary care is essential for keeping employees and their families healthy and productive. But amid physician shortages, how can you encourage employees to utilize primary care and help them access it? Read on to learn how to help your workforce build a relationship with a PCP to maintain their health and get the most out of their healthcare.   

Benefits of Primary Care  

Navigating the healthcare system can be daunting for patients, but PCPs can help patients navigate their care. Primary care providers are the main point of contact for patients. They act like the quarterback of a patient’s healthcare team, using a team of specialists to coordinate care, including preventative and sick care. If a patient needs to see a specialist for care, their PCP can refer them. Having one provider who knows a patients’ health history and concerns means they can take a holistic view of their health. This helps patients understand how health conditions may interact with other factors in their life. This also ensures patients only receive necessary tests and procedures, discouraging duplicate diagnostics. 

Additionally, when patients need specialized care, having an established PCP also streamlines the process. Without a primary care provider, patients may face prolonged wait times for initial appointments, delaying access to diagnosis and treatment. Patients with a PCP can also discuss test results with their physician. This helps them understand their diagnosis and how to best move forward with their treatment.  

Overcoming Barriers to Access Primary Care  

In addition to many PCPs leaving their practices, primary care practices are being consolidated or closed, contributing to the lower supply of PCPs. Less primary care providers in the healthcare industry means it is more difficult for patients to get appointments, especially if they do not have an established relationship with a provider. Uneven geographic dispersal of PCPs also leads to limited availability. With the average appointment wait time for patients without a PCP being 26 days, it is more important than ever for patients to have a relationship with a primary care provider. Having a PCP ensures patients have access not only to preventative care but to care for acute and chronic conditions when needed. 

Increasing healthcare costs present another barrier to accessing primary care. Concerns about the ability to pay for healthcare services lead many patients to skip care. Unfortunately, avoiding preventative and routine care can result in higher medical costs for specialty, urgent, and emergency services later. This is because upon seeking treatment, advanced conditions can be discovered which are often more challenging and expensive to treat.  

The Alliance values the importance of primary care. We have established partnerships with several independent primary care providers and clinics and DPCs across our network service area. We have also designated several independent PCPs, independent primary care clinics and DPCs as preferred-value providers within our network. This means that these providers offer good care at low costs. Our partnerships with these providers allow The Alliance to bring solutions to our employers to help improve access to primary care, facilitate appropriate referrals to specialists, and overall, improve employee health. 

How we can help

Our Smarter Networks^SM cover 90% of the state of WI, reducing the geographic barrier to care. And our contracting methodology – Reference-Based Contracting by The Alliance – uses Medicare as a benchmark for fair pricing to reduce the financial barrier to care. Our Find a Doctor tool helps users search for doctors, hospitals, and specialty services by location, gender, and languages spoken. Users can also see if the provider is accepting new patients, what their Leapfrog Safety Score is, and whether they charge facility fees. This allows users to find PCPs and make more informed choices about their healthcare.  

Maximizing Primary Care: Building a Relationship with a Provider 

Primary care allows patients to create long-standing relationships with their physicians. And those trusted relationships reach patients in ways that specialized care can’t.     

When patients see a provider regularly, that physician accumulates historical knowledge about the patient – their work history, mental health history, and family life which creates a better foundation to accurately diagnose health issues, recognize them earlier and deploy the appropriate care mechanisms to help manage them. This is not possible if a patient sees a different provider every time they seek care – for example, in an urgent care or emergency setting.   

Communication is key 

Building a relationship with a PCP allows for personalized care tailored to a patient’s unique health needs. Patients should share details about their health history, concerns, and preferences, and ask questions during their visits. The more the provider knows, the better equipped they are to help.  

Stay informed 

Patients should educate themselves about their health conditions and treatment options. That way, the primary care provider can develop a care plan that aligns with their health goals and preferences. 

Be honest 

It is important for patients to be open about lifestyle factors, habits, concerns, and any symptoms they may be experiencing. Being honest helps providers give effective, appropriate care. 

Regular check-ups 

Patients should not wait until they are sick to visit their primary care provider. Regular check-ups help providers monitor a patient’s health and catch any issues early on. By staying proactive, concerns can be addressed before they escalate, keeping patients healthier in the long run. 

We created a short video employers can share with their employees to communicate the importance of building a relationship with a primary care provider. You can watch the video here.  

Empowering Employee Health: The Alliance Resources  

When employees utilize high-value primary care, they can improve their overall health, engagement, and satisfaction. Employees who actively participate in their health with their PCP can show up better in all aspects of their lives.  

The Alliance creates resources for our employer-members to share with their employees. This helps them get the most out of their benefits by making informed decisions about their healthcare. If you would like access to these resources, please contact your account executive.