Primary care at a crossroads.

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Primary Care Policy
• Healthcare Innovation

Background:

• Concerns regarding the future of primary care prompted a 2001 meeting of 45 leaders.
• The meeting aimed to identify challenges and generate innovative ideas for primary care systems.
• Fifteen background papers informed discussions on primary care's current crisis and future direction.

Framework:

• Primary care is at a crossroads, facing a potential decline or a renaissance.
• Developing new primary care systems requires identifying core principles and innovative ideas.
• The Chronic Illness Model is presented as a potential solution for primary care challenges.

Implementation:

• Four expert papers were revised and included, covering the primary care crisis, patient perspectives, the Chronic Illness Model, and predicted service tiering.
• Discussions focused on actionable ideas and suggestions for revitalizing primary care.
• The need for new primary care system construction was emphasized.

Implications:

• Patient views significantly impact the perception and delivery of primary care.
• A tiered approach to primary care delivery may emerge in the future.
• The findings offer opportunities to foster a renaissance in primary care delivery.