Primary care is the foundation of California’s health care system and a critical driver of population health and equity. Yet access to timely, comprehensive primary care remains out of reach for millions of Californians.
Delivering all recommended care to an average patient panel would require a single primary care physician to work 26.7 hours per day, underscoring the need for care models that extend beyond physician-only care. More than 11.4 million Californians — over a quarter of the state’s population — live in federally designated Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas, and primary care receives just 5%–7% of total health care spending in California, well below international benchmarks.
Primary care teams offer a more sustainable and effective approach. By aligning care delivery with the skills of a broad range of health professionals, team-based primary care models improve access, quality, and workforce sustainability while better meeting the medical, behavioral, and social needs of patients and communities.