Why Primary Care Is the Key to a Better Healthcare System
By DocGo’s Editorial Team
Doctor James Powell is CEO of DocGo’s affiliate Clinical Practice Group. He is a board-certified Internist with more than 20 years of experience as a physician executive working for non-profit organizations that specialize in underserved populations. As a former CEO and CMO of a Federally Qualified Health Center, he successfully developed and scaled value-based community health programs.
The medical community agrees that shifting to a healthcare system focused on prevention, cost efficiency, and better outcomes is essential. The importance of primary care in this shift is often underestimated.
U.S. adults with a primary care physician (PCP) have 33% lower healthcare costs and 19% lower odds of dying prematurely. Research also shows that a strong primary care system is linked to fewer hospitalizations, better outcomes, and lower healthcare spending.
Despite this, only $5 of every $100 spent on healthcare in the U.S. goes to primary care — significantly lower than the average in other high-income countries.
DocGo spoke with Dr. James Powell, a national leader in primary care, to discuss why a more proactive and efficient healthcare system depends on a robust primary care foundation.
Proactive Care Starts with Primary Care
Primary care stands out as a field where proactive care isn’t just an aspiration but the core philosophy.
PCPs build relationships with patients through regular consultations and a focus on long-term wellness. These are the foundations of proactive care: practices that prevent and anticipate health challenges.
“When I work with patients, I’m always thinking about their immediate and future needs,” Dr. Powell shared.
“I ask proactive questions like; how can we reduce long-term heart attack risk through diet and exercise? When can we set up routine cancer screenings? It’s all about understanding how different health factors interact to support long-term wellbeing.”
America’s Primary Care Deficit
America is falling behind on primary care relative to other advanced economies and healthcare systems.
U.S. adults are the least likely among high-income countries to have a longstanding relationship with a primary care provider. Only 43% of Americans reported having the same doctor or place of care for more than five years, compared to well over 60% in nations like the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands.
“The more you understand a person, the better you can treat them,” he said. “Building trust takes time, but it allows us to establish and track healthy habits and goals. That continuity is key to reducing risks and improving outcomes.”
When patients don’t have regular access to PCPs, their interactions with the healthcare system shift from proactive screenings to expensive interventions. This means higher costs and worse outcomes.
If the U.S. is serious about improving its healthcare system, more investment in primary care is the first step — and it doesn’t have to be a cost burden. Doubling the nation’s current spending on primary care would actually pay for itself in savings.
How Innovation is Transforming Primary Care Access
The cause of America’s primary care deficit isn’t just underinvestment. It’s also a lack of innovation.
U.S. primary care providers make home visits and use telehealth far less than their counterparts in other high-income countries. This impedes access for communities without a local PCP.
With innovations like mobile medical teams and virtual care, DocGo’s affiliate medical practice is bringing primary care to hundreds of thousands of new patients.
“Technology is so important to primary care. It helps us capture the right data at the right time and turn it into actionable strategies,” Dr. Powell explained. “I joined DocGo for their innovations that make healthcare more proactive, affordable, and accessible to patients.”
DocGo’s affiliate medical practice has a team of over 6,000 medically trained field staff who conducted more than 1 million patient interactions in 2023. These interactions included home visits, telehealth consultations, and remote patient monitoring — primary care services powered by technology and innovative care models.
The right investments and innovations can make primary care the bedrock of a more efficient U.S. healthcare system. Thanks to innovations from leaders like Dr. Powell and DocGo, these changes are already underway.
