Primary Care Week, observed this year from Oct. 4-11, is an opportunity to highlight the critical role that primary care plays in maintaining public health.
This month, I want to recognize the importance of primary care and primary care providers (PCPs) in preventing, diagnosing, and treating a wide range of health conditions.
Primary care focuses on disease prevention, health promotion, and early intervention. PCPs are often the first point of contact for patients, contributing to the early detection and management of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease—conditions that, if caught early, can be managed or prevented altogether. Studies have consistently shown that robust primary care systems improve health outcomes, lower health care costs, and improve patient satisfaction.
According to the Alabama Office of Healthcare Workforce, in 2023, there were 2,073 primary care providers in Alabama. To meet the needs of Alabamians, an additional ~250 providers are needed to resolve an ongoing PCP shortage.
I am proud of the way UAB Department of Family and Community Medicine, chaired by Irfan Asif, M.D., who also serves as associate dean for Primary Care and Rural Health, has consistently expanded services and programs in our state to address this disproportionate gap.
Access to primary care is a challenge affecting individuals throughout the entire state of Alabama, including our own UAB community. In September, a new primary care clinic was opened for employees only. Located in the Kirklin Clinic and staffed by two physicians, with a third joining in November, the clinic will offer routine care such as health screenings, vaccinations, physical exams, and treating acute conditions.
Additionally, UAB Primary Care, led by Stuart J. Cohen, M.D., chief of Primary Care for the UAB Health System and UAB Medicine, sees adult patients at the Whitaker Clinic of UAB Hospital. UAB Medicine also has primary care clinics throughout the Birmingham metro area in Hoover and Lee Branch, as well as adult and pediatric patients at clinics in Gardendale and Leeds.
These local efforts are part of a larger mission, as primary care is critically needed across the Deep South to combat the significant burden of health disparities. Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Georgia face some of the nation’s highest rates of chronic diseases, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and stroke. Many of these conditions are preventable or manageable with proper primary care intervention.
However, access to care in rural communities is often limited. These areas tend to have fewer health care providers, longer travel times to clinics, and higher poverty rates. Rural regions are also often characterized by higher rates of uninsured individuals, intensifying the challenges to routine or emergency care.
Recruiting and retaining primary care professionals in the southeast region is vital to expanding services and improving health outcomes. The Department of Family and Community Medicine recently acquired the Selma Family Medicine Residency Program, which serves seven counties in Selma and the Black Belt region of Alabama. It is one of the few programs in the U.S. that offer a completely rural training experience. The department plans to bolster the program with additional resources, including recruitment of more providers.
Growing telemedicine initiatives can help expand care, as well. The Department of Family and Community Medicine was recently awarded over $11.4 million from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute for a study—led by Tapan Mehta, Ph.D.—on how telehealth interventions can help patients with physical disabilities manage Type 2 Diabetes and other comorbidities. Since COVID-19, telehealth programs are increasingly being utilized. More information is needed to understand which options are most effective, which Mehta's study will measure in partnership with the University of Mississippi Medical Center and LSU Health.
As we continue expanding care and pursuing advancements in medicine, let us reflect on Primary Care Week and how it reminds us of the ongoing importance of accessing health care, especially in regions like the Deep South. At UAB, we are dedicated to addressing the needs of all Alabamians and the deep-rooted health disparities that exist today.
Thank you to those who serve on the frontlines day in and day out to improve patient outcomes.