Virtual Care, Retail Clinics Added to Alleviate Primary Care Shortages

A 2024 report by the Association of American Medical Colleges projects that by 2036, the nation will face a shortage of between 20,200 and 40,400 primary care physicians, but the strains on the system are already being felt. Under pressure to alleviate primary care shortages, health systems are continuing to develop more telehealth and retail clinic partnerships to reduce patient wait times to see a clinician. 

For instance, Atlanta-based Emory Healthcare Network is expanding its partnership with MinuteClinic, the clinics inside CVS Pharmacy locations. This will add in-network adult primary care to most of the clinically integrated network’s health insurance plan holders at all 35 MinuteClinic locations in Georgia. 

Nurse practitioners and other advanced practice providers staff the clinics and Emory physicians serve as collaborating physicians for the locations.

Patients will get same-day access, extended evening and weekend hours and virtual care options. Emory said that care coordination will be facilitated through an interoperable electronic health record, allowing for seamless communication and consultation between MinuteClinic providers and Emory clinicians. MinuteClinic primary care patients will also have access to Emory Healthcare Network’s resources, including hospitals, specialists, diagnostic and radiology facilities and specialty labs.

“With a shortage of primary care physicians and services in Georgia, MinuteClinic’s expansion of primary care, in coordination with the Emory Healthcare Network, will offer additional options for primary and preventive care throughout our larger community,” said Joon S. Lee, M.D., CEO of Emory Healthcare, in a statement. “We continue to look for meaningful ways to broaden access to care in our state.”

Health systems are also adding more virtual health options for primary care, and some telehealth companies are touting the benefits of adding AI to the equation.  Connecticut-based Hartford HealthCare announced it is working toward an April 1 launch of HHC 24/7, a virtual health platform powered by K Health, designed to provide access to primary care anytime, anywhere. 

Hartford HealthCare is one of Connecticut’s largest health systems with 500 locations. 

K Health’s model includes chat and AI-based “copilots” for the clinicians.  With AI Provider Mode, patients are taken through a MedicalChat investigation that is grounded in relevant medical history from the EHR. Clinicians using AI Provider Mode receive a synthesis of the MedicalChat investigation at the point of care, coupled with patient insights, enabling them to make individualized diagnosis and treatment decisions, the company said. 

The companies said the service will be fully integrated with Hartford HealthCare, ensuring the expanded access to longitudinal care with HHC 24/7 is coordinated and connected to the care patients receive across the Hartford HealthCare ecosystem. With HHC 24/7, patients will have on-demand, and same-day appointment access to clinicians covering a broad range of acute, chronic and preventative medical care needs.

K Health also partners with Cedars-Sinai and Hackensack Meridian Health.