Seeking more primary care physicians

As policymakers and medical experts scramble to find ways to increase the number of primary care physicians, issues related to payment and health care value draw attention.

Healthycal.org: Residency Program Grows Local Docs
Primary care doctors have an increasingly significant role in health care reform. More and more, medical systems are focusing on creating what's known as a "medical home" -; a doctor or clinic who oversees and coordinates all of a patient's health needs -; a move intended to reduce costs and improve health by providing preventative and well-managed treatment.  Within these medical homes, primary care physicians are expected to play an increasingly important role. And with a looming shortage of primary care physicians, lawmakers and medical experts are scrambling to come up with ways to increase the number of primary care doctors (Flynn, 6/11).

Medscape Medical News: Most Primary Care Physicians Go Unpaid For Hospital Call Coverage
Most primary care physicians go unpaid for taking call coverage at hospitals, although the percentage who pocket some money slightly increased last year, according to a new survey by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA). The percentage of family physicians, internists, pediatricians, and obstetrician-gynecologists who receive compensation for hospital call coverage rose from roughly 39% in 2010 to 43% in 2011 (Lowes, 6/11). 

Medpage Today: U.S. Lags In Bettering Value Of Health Care
The U.S. faces major obstacles in the effort to document variations in health outcomes and improve clinical practice through value-based healthcare, according to a report from industry consultants. While the U.S. health system has the highest per capita cost of the 12 nations studied -- spending 17.6% of its gross domestic product on healthcare -- it ranked at the bottom in terms of readiness to implement a value-based care system. The fragmented nature of the healthcare system has severely limited the collection and use of national health-outcome data. In a value-based health system, variations in health outcomes are documented, leading to potential changes in clinical practice (Walker, 6/10).