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What do we mean when we say "primary care"...
What do we mean when we say "primary care"...
Primary care doctors and nurses are the foundation of our health care system and the first line of defense in keeping us healthy. Through regular checkups and screenings, they help patients manage their health, prevent illness, treat common conditions, connect to specialty care, and navigate the broader health care system.
...and why does it matter?
...and why does it matter?
When people aren’t able to see their regular doctor when they need to, they end up sicker and are forced to turn to hospitals or emergency rooms, where it’s more expensive and often more traumatic.
About 7 in 10 emergency department visits in 2019 could have been addressed and treated in a primary care setting. When there are enough primary care doctors and nurses, people and communities are healthier.
Research shows that adding just one primary care clinician per 10,000 people can lead to:
5.5% fewer hospital stays
11% fewer trips to the emergency department
7% fewer surgeries
THE PROBLEM
THE SOLUTION
In New York State and across the country, primary care is undervalued and underfunded.
Nationally, less than 5 cents of every health care dollar goes to primary care — even though primary care doctors and nurses handle 1 in 3 health care visits. The imbalance hurts patients and clinicians.
It leads to:
Delayed treatment
Worse health for patients
An overburdened health care workforce that burns out experienced primary care clinicians — and struggles to attract new ones
Specialists stretched too thin seeing patients who could have been treated by primary care
The solution is clear: New York leaders need to require health insurance companies to prioritize spending on primary care.
This is how we will fix the imbalance in our health care system and make sure we have enough primary care doctors in New York.
Greater investment will help ensure:
More people in New York can see a primary care doctor or nurse when they need to
New York residents are healthier and need fewer costly treatments
The primary care workforce is supported and our health system functions better
Learn more about the current state of primary care in New York State:
Access county-level primary care data with this interactive tool:
Want to help educate friends and family about the importance of investing in primary care? Share these graphics on social media:
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