Physician Focus, March 2008: Primary Care
Primary Care
Primary care physicians represent a patient’s focal point in the health care system. They coordinate overall medical care, refer to specialists when needed, provide health plans with necessary information for insurance purposes, and much more. Yet these physicians are increasingly in short supply, creating challenges for patients in getting and maintaining good care.
What, exactly, are the roles of primary care physicians? What obstacles do they face in caring for patients? What’s causing this shortage and are there solutions to fix it? Is the solo practitioner or small group general practice becoming extinct? And what, ultimately, will be the impact on patients?
Paul Hart, M.D., Primary Care Physician, Sterling, Mass.; Sharon Jezard, M.D., Primary Care Physician, Sturdy Memorial Hospital, Attleboro, Mass.
Host: Bruce Karlin, M.D.
Co-produced with Hopkinton Community Access Television, HCAM-TV, Hopkinton Mass.
Listen to the podcast (Length 14:37) (This will open your computer’s default media player in a new window)
Filed under: Physician Focus
