Portland, Oregon, March 11, 2016 – The Oregon Academy of Family Physicians has partnered with the Health is Primary campaign to bring a heightened awareness to the success of patient-centered primary care in Oregon. Health is Primary is sponsored by Family Medicine for America’s Health, a partnership of the eight leading family medicine organizations in the United States.
Family physicians in Oregon are leading the way in reforming the way primary care is delivered by improving health and quality of care at a lower cost. Nearly 75% of the family physicians in Oregon practice in a state certified Patient-Centered Primary Care Home (PCPCH). Medical care provided in a PCPCH is anchored by a team approach to each patient, coordinating their care and helping them get the services they need such as expanded hours and alternatives to emergency room visits and resources to help patients take better care of themselves.
Believing it is important to model the behavior they wish to see in their patients, 150 family doctors will be demonstrating the benefits of regular exercise by participating in an “umbrella brigade,” walking with matching umbrellas from the Embassy Suites Hotel downtown to Director Park at noon on Friday, March 11. At the park, the President of the American Academy of Family Physicians, Wanda Filer, MD, will speak to the group about the incredible innovations going on in Oregon and their importance to a national audience.
FACTS:
In Oregon
Since Oregon began using PCPCHs for the Medicaid population in 2011, there has been:
- a 22% reduction in ED visits
- a 27% reduction in hospital admissions for patients with diabetes and short-term complications
- a 60% reduction in admissions for patients with COPD or asthma
- a 50% reduction in avoidable ED visits.
Nationally
- Roughly 75 cents of every dollar spent on health care is tied to chronic health conditions that could be prevented, detected earlier and managed more effectively through primary care.
- In areas of the country where there are more primary care providers per population, death rates for cancer, heart disease, and stroke are lower and people are less likely to be hospitalized.
- U.S. adults who have a primary care physician have 33 percent lower health care costs. Medicare spending is lower for states with more primary care physicians and these states have more effective, higher-quality care.
- Oregon’s health care community is driving innovation and transformation to deliver on the promise of primary care.
WHERE: Director Park, 815 SW Park, Portland
WHEN: Friday, March 11, 2016, noon
INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY:
Dr. Wanda Filer will be available for interviews during the day on March 11. Please contact Kerry Gonzales, [email protected] or 503-957-7029, for more information.
About the Oregon Academy of Family Physicians
The Oregon Academy of Family Physicians is the largest specialty medical society, with over 1400 members around Oregon. The OAFP supports family physicians in their pursuit of optimal health for the people of Oregon.
