Not Otherwise Specified

If the future of primary care lies in teams, what makes a team and how should it function? NOS host Lisa Rosenbaum and her guests consider the possibilities of team-based care. A full transcript of this episode is available at https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2514243.

NOS host Lisa Rosenbaum and her guests discuss the extent to which online influencers and AI could someday substitute for trustworthy, caring, broad-spectrum family doctors. A full transcript of this episode is available at https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2514241.

With increasing numbers of PCPs leaving traditional practice for concierge medicine or direct primary care, NOS host Lisa Rosenbaum and her guests explore the promise and perils. A full transcript of this episode is available at https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2514240.

NOS host Lisa Rosenbaum and her guests consider what should be done to make primary care more accessible to the patients who need it most? A full transcript of this episode is available at https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2514239.

NOS host Lisa Rosenbaum and her guests dissect the common notion that the key to improving the primary care system is simply increasing reimbursement. A full transcript of this episode is available at https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2514238.

In this engaging discussion, Ed Bujo, a seasoned community family physician, shares his journey from anesthesia to family medicine, emphasizing the profound impact of long-term patient relationships. Benjamin Popok, a medical student passionate about rural family medicine, reflects on his transformative clinical rotation and advocates for early exposure to community practices. They delve into challenges in primary care, the joy of comprehensive care, and the need for reforms in medical training to prioritize primary care roles, highlighting the importance of financial support and cultural respect.

Mark Friedberg, a former primary care physician and current health services researcher, joins an anonymous first-year medical student, C, to discuss the systemic undervaluation of primary care. They dive into the cultural pushback against choosing generalism and how medical education often neglects primary care exposure. Friedberg shares research showing disparities in resourcing and reimbursement, shedding light on the burdens that PCPs bear. C emphasizes how primary care can address access and trust in healthcare while they both confront the troubling cycle of burnout among practitioners.

Priyatha Narasimharaj, a cardiology fellow, shares her guilt over moving away from primary care amidst its shortage. Ben Davis discusses the moral injury residents face when confronting systemic inequities in healthcare. Wright Clarkson, a family medicine resident, explains why he chose hospitalist work, citing inbox burdens and devaluation of primary care. Together, they explore how medical training and culture contribute to the decline in primary care interest, revealing the challenges of creating a robust healthcare workforce.

In a thought-provoking discussion, family physician Kurt Stange shares patient-centered stories that highlight the essential elements of primary care, focusing on the importance of relationships. Cultural anthropologist Rebecca Etz critiques the limitations of one-size-fits-all guidelines, emphasizing the social dimensions of health. Elizabeth Bradley discusses how social determinants, not just medical care, affect population outcomes, warning against offloading social needs onto primary care. Together, they explore the fragility of the primary care system and the urgent need for a more integrated approach.

In a captivating discussion, Steven Lin, a family medicine physician and AI implementation expert at Stanford, dives into the balance between AI's benefits and challenges in primary care. He explains how AI scribes can ease documentation burdens, but raises concerns about losing critical clinical thinking. The conversation explores AI’s potential to transform medical training and address the cognitive load for clinicians. Ultimately, Lin emphasizes that while AI can improve patient care efficiency, it cannot resolve the systemic issues plaguing primary care.