Finger on the Pulse: The State of Primary Care in the U.S. and Nine Other Countries

Commonwealth Fund March 28, 2024
Evan D. Gumas, Corinne Lewis, Celli Horstman, Munira Z. Gunja

TOPLINES

In the U.S. and many other nations, access to comprehensive primary care is hindered by underinvestment, workforce shortages, and physician burnout

Survey data from 10 high-income countries show that U.S. adults were the least likely to have a longstanding relationship with a primary care provider, and U.S. providers were least likely to make home visits

Introduction

For many people, primary care is their first point of contact with the health system, and decades of evidence shows it is critical for population health, health equity, and the overall efficiency of health care systems.¹ Primary care is also uniquely positioned to screen for social needs and provide integrated behavioral health services.² Ensuring people have access to high-quality, comprehensive primary care is...

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