Primary Care (Physician)???????

The ACP Advocate Blog by Bob Doherty

Are doctors and non-physicians speaking the same language when they define primary care?
I know I am showing my age, but the White House roundtable on primary care that ACP President-elect, Fred Ralston, and I attended last week reminded me of the "What's my line?" quiz show from my childhood. The show featured a contestant in an unusual occupation that was kept secret from a panel of celebrities. Each of the celebrities would try to guess the contestant's occupation, by asking "yes or no" questions that the contestant was required to answer truthfully.

The White House's primary care roundtable included community pharmacists, nurse-midwives, nurse-practitioners, physician assistants, psychologists, an oral hygienist, and two physicians, Dr. Ralston and a pediatrician working in a community health center. Each described themselves as primary care providers. But had they been subjected to "What's my line?" style questioning, I think it would be become evident that their lines (roles) were very different from each other.

The optometrist said that he was the "primary care provider" for patients with eye disease. The community pharmacists said they are the first contact for patients filling their prescriptions and uniquely qualified to provide medication management. The psychologist said she provided primary care mental health services to children and adolescents. The nurse-midwives said they were primary care providers for many women, not only during childbirth but throughout their lives. The PAs said that they were primary care clinicians in a physician-led team. The nurse-practitioners said that they were primary care providers for patients of all ages and conditions, and in some communities, they were the only primary care providers. The oral hygienist said she provided primary care for the mouth! Dr. Ralston described his role as a primary care (general) internist caring for a patient population, principally made up of elderly patients with multiple chronic diseases.

As the conversation continued, it struck me that the language that each of the non-physician professions used to describe primary care was quite different. The pharmacists and optometrists placed the emphasis on being "first contact" providers and the specialized skill they can bring to those contacts. The physician assistants made it clear that they believe that they play an increasingly important role in primary care, but not outside of a physician-led team. The psychologist had a regular relationship with her patients, but on mental health issues, not the entire range of her patient's health care needs. Only the NPs and nurse-midwives stated that they provide comprehensive primary and preventive care to their patients.

The Institute of Medicine describes primary care as "the provision of integrated, accessible healthservices by clinicians who are accountable for addressing a large majority of personal health care needs, developing a sustained partnership with patients, and practicing in the context of family and community." [Emphasis added] ACP also notes that the hallmarks of primary care are "first contact care, continuity of care, comprehensive care, and coordinated care" of the whole person.

Many of the professions represented at the White House's primary care roundtable have important supporting roles within their areas of expertise, but they are not trained to address "a large majority of personal health care needs" or provide comprehensive and coordinated care of the whole person. That is, they simply are not primary care clinicians as the IOM (and ACP) would define it. Advanced practice nurses in some states might meet the IOM's definition, but their skills and training are complimentary--not equivalent--to those of primary care physicians, a topic that ACP discussed at length in our position paper on NPs and primary care. PAs meet the definition, but only when teamed with a physician.

I don't think there was anything wrong with the White House reaching out to different professions. Much of the discussion focused on common ground issues, like the need for coordinated teams that recognized the different skills that each profession can contribute, and for workforce policies to ensure we have enough professionals--physicians, nurses, PAs, and others--with the necessary skills.

But it is important that policymakers not lose sight that primary care is not something anyone can do. It requires an internist or other highly trained clinician who accepts personal responsibility and accountability for addressing a large majority of personal health care needs and developing a sustained partnership with patients, with an emphasis on coordinated, comprehensive and continuous care.

Today's question: Do you think primary care means the same thing to the different health professions?