An interesting article published in JAMA Internal Medicine has shown that a higher number of primary care physicians per capita is associated with lower population mortality.
Β
Studying 142 US counties, 7144 primary care service areas, and 306 hospital referral regions from 2005 to 2015, researchers showed that each additional 10 primary care physicians per 100,000 population was associated with 52 days more in life expectancy.
Β
The addition of 10 specialists per 100,000 population was associated with a 19-day increase in life expectancy.
Β
Dr. Thomas Schwenk of NEJM Journal Watch General Medicine comments: “Many studies have shown a strong relationship between primary care access and better clinical outcomes at the country and state-level. Now we have confirmation of this relationship at the county-level. These results should influence health care policy decisions that support and enhance primary care as a way to improve health care outcomes.”
No comment yet, add your voice below!