Primary Care Physicians' Role In Coordinating Medical And Health-Related Social Needs In Eleven Countries.

Area of Science:

• Health Policy
• Primary Care Medicine
• Healthcare Coordination

Background:

• Primary care physicians (PCPs) increasingly coordinate diverse patient services beyond traditional medical settings.
• Effective care coordination is vital for managing complex patient needs and improving health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess primary care physicians' ability to coordinate patient care across different settings and providers in eleven high-income countries.
• To identify challenges and best practices in healthcare coordination from the perspective of PCPs.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the 2019 Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey of Primary Care Physicians.
• Surveyed PCPs in eleven high-income countries regarding care coordination with specialists, hospitals, and social services.

Main Results:

• A substantial proportion of US physicians reported difficulties receiving timely information from specialists and other care sites.
• Electronic health information exchange outside the practice is not routine for many primary care practices, including those in the US.
• Physicians across surveyed countries face challenges coordinating with social service providers.

Conclusions:

• US physicians experience significant gaps in receiving necessary information for ongoing patient care management.
• Enhanced two-way communication and electronic information exchange between primary care and other healthcare settings are feasible and necessary.
• Developing solutions to support PCPs in coordinating with social services is essential for comprehensive patient care.