The current trend is to cut and devalue primary care. When primary care is the focus, and appropriately reimbursed, look at what happens:

The clinics emphasize a “warm and friendly” atmosphere, says Fernandez, with service reps hovering to help patients negotiate the system. The CAC Westchester clinic even puts photos on the walls of patients’ recent birthday parties, and service is extensive. Many clinics are open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and Saturday mornings.

Still, the core is primary care. Elders tend to have a lot of aches and pains, and a good many of them are worriers. “They love to see their doctor,” says Ausberto Bianchi, the physician-in-charge at CAC’s Westchester center.

The clinics don’t try to limit those visits. “Why do that?” asks León. “If they can’t see their doctor, they’ll just go to the ER.”

(via Medpundit)