The last four years in Primary Care have been eye-opening. The number of people expressing gratitude towards frontline staff has thankfully increased. However, there's also a growing sentiment questioning why anyone would opt for a career in Primary Care. This is especially concerning as Primary Care Providers (PCPs) are now tasked with delivering "higher quality care" with less reimbursement, fewer staff, and increased burnout.
Recent MGMA survey data confirms the severity of the staffing crisis in Primary Care. Providers are doing the same amount or even more work with 40% less staff. While it might seem that this reduction is due to the adoption of new care models, telehealth, or reduced needs, our customers and colleagues tell a different story. The same is true based on my own experiences in outpatient settings.
The challenge of attracting, hiring, and retaining qualified personnel for frontline healthcare roles has significantly intensified. The Covid-19 pandemic has added layers of complexity, exacerbating long hours, patient dissatisfaction, and the demanding pace of work. Many frontline staff have also seen their friends in other industries earn more money for fewer hours and less risk.
But here's the silver lining: I believe that having fewer support staff in primary care offices could actually be a positive trend, if managed correctly. What's crucial is replacing staff with less expensive, more efficient solutions that free up care teams to focus on what they do best—providing care. The downside is that patient engagement and compliance have suffered, affecting both quality performance and financial metrics.
At HealthHelper, we're tackling this issue head-on by providing scalable, structured, and strategic panel management solutions. Our approach alleviates the hiring and retention challenge, redirects healthcare professionals towards population health services, and leverages technology for improved patient access and care coordination.
Though the staff-to-provider ratio has declined, in part due to the "Great Resignation," this doesn't have to spell disaster for Primary Care Practices. The quality of care doesn't have to suffer. In fact, by offloading some tasks from PCPs, we may actually make clinical medicine more appealing to potential clinicians. Primary Care Staffing Shortage
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