The family physician’s role in a changing health care system

Primary care is at a crossroads. Our current delivery systems are unsustainable and lack the resiliency to survive in new environments where total cost of care, patient experience, and patient-centered outcomes are the primary determinants of success. In order for primary care to remain relevant and viable, new solutions must be created and new roles must be defined that are practical and transformative. These new roles and solutions must provide clear value with highly satisfying services that both meet the needs of the patient and provide for population health. Family medicine also must consider the ways in which care coordination can be improved. This is especially important in managing populations and subpopulations of patients with multiple chronic conditions. The cost of care must come down and quality must remain high in order to be able to deliver affordable care.