Hospitals are doubling down on primary care, but they can’t find enough physicians

Medical Economics October 23, 2025
Austin Littrell, Keith A. Reynolds

Key Takeaways

• Health systems are expanding primary care to improve clinical outcomes, manage costs, and transition to value-based care models.
• Workforce shortages are a major concern, with physician recruitment and retention as top priorities for health executives.
• AI adoption is expected to nearly double, enhancing practice efficiency and reducing administrative burdens for clinicians.
• Primary care’s role is evolving from coordination to leadership, focusing on balancing workforce realities, patient expectations, and responsible AI adoption.

Bain & Company finds hospitals accelerating investment in primary care and value-based care, even as labor shortages and patient skepticism over AI threaten progress.

U.S. health systems are making primary care a strategic priority, positioning it as the foundation of care delivery, patient experience and...

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