All articles tagged with #primary care
One in six American adults now take antidepressants, a rise driven by post-pandemic mental health trends and expanded telehealth access. While HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. advocates for non-medication treatments, experts note that systemic gaps in primary care often lead to overprescribing for mild cases, even as access helps those with severe depression.
England is expanding its Pharmacy First scheme to allow walk-in treatment for five new conditions, including migraines and acne, starting this autumn. The move aims to reduce pressure on GPs and A&E departments by leveraging community pharmacists. While the expansion is welcomed by health bodies, industry leaders warn that current funding is insufficient to support the increased workload.
As GLP-1 weight-loss medications become more common, physicians are increasingly managing patients who discontinue treatment due to cost, access, or side effects. This discontinuation often leads to weight regain, which can trigger depression, shame, and reduced engagement with healthcare. Experts advise clinicians to proactively screen for mood disorders, use non-judgmental language, and shift focus from scale weight to broader health metrics. Integrating behavioral health support and setting small, achievable goals can help patients maintain momentum and reduce the stigma associated with weight fluctuation.
UK draft NHS guidance would let GPs offer two non-invasive tests— a saliva-based Endotest and a gut electrical-signal Endosure— to help identify endometriosis faster, alongside routine checks. The tests are not standalone diagnostics and access will vary, with laparoscopy still used for confirmation in many cases; the goal is to reduce long diagnostic waits while evidence on effectiveness is gathered.
An NIH-supported PATHWEIGH program implemented across 56 UCHealth primary care clinics and reaching about 274,000 patients reduced population weight gain by 0.58 kg over 18 months, increased weight-related care by 23%, and is being considered as a standard approach to obesity treatment in the U.S.
A Massachusetts study of insured children aged 1–18 found anxiety diagnoses attached to pediatric primary care visits surged 300% from 2014 to 2023, with anxiety becoming a more common label even as total visits declined. ADHD remained the most frequent mental health diagnosis, and other conditions like autism and depression also rose modestly. The authors argue for more mental health training and integrated care in primary settings, while noting the study uses MA insurance billing data and may not generalize to other states.
Amazon's One Medical is launching a nationwide GLP-1 weight-loss program that combines prescriptions with ongoing primary care, including virtual and in-person visits, lab monitoring, and integrated care through Amazon Pharmacy. The initiative, which offers pricing options and aims to improve long-term outcomes, comes as competitors push similar GLP-1 platforms and underscores ongoing gaps in obesity care when care isn’t closely managed.
Social prescribing—doctors directing patients to nonmedical supports like arts, nature, volunteering, and community programs—has grown as health systems seek to ease hospital demand and loneliness. The UK’s NHS leads with millions of referrals in five years, spanning housing advice to debt counseling, with nature and arts activities rising in use. Early evidence is promising (creative engagement linked to lower depression risk; music reducing pain and opioid use for surgery), but many experts caution that outcomes are hard to measure and the evidence base is still developing. Similar efforts are expanding in the Netherlands and the US, where pilots and nonprofit groups aim for broader access by 2035, underscoring a shift toward addressing social determinants of health and roots causes of ill health beyond medications.
A 23-year-old medical student endured years of stroke-like episodes and fatigue that doctors repeatedly attributed to stress or health anxiety, with his father saying they visited about 50 doctors. A May 2025 episode led to emergency brain surgery that uncovered a 5 cm glioblastoma; prognosis is poor (12–18 months). He’s undergoing chemotherapy and radiation and is traveling to Germany for cutting-edge immunotherapy, as his family urges clinicians to take persistent symptoms in young people more seriously and push for earlier scans.
The government will include a contract clause forcing GPs in England to guarantee same-day urgent appointments, backed by about £500m extra funding to recruit more doctors. From April, practices must meet the target in 90% of urgent cases (with a 10% allowance). Urgent means cases needing same-day treatment or at risk of deterioration. Reactions vary: the BMA warns of unrealistic expectations amid stretched services, Healthwatch England sees potential improvements, and this forms part of broader NHS primary-care reforms including online booking for non-urgent cases.
Endocrinologist Leigh Perreault led PATHWEIGH, a structured primary-care pathway that dedicates visits to weight management and streamlines workflows to reduce stigma and barriers. In a NIH-funded rollout across Colorado's 56 clinics, a large 18-month trial with 274,182 patients found that population weight gain fell by 0.58 kg and the overall trend shifted toward weight loss, with a 23% uptick in weight-related care and more anti-obesity prescriptions, prompting broader interest from health systems.
A new study from Karolinska Institutet introduces a simple blood test, called the CORE model, that can predict the risk of severe liver disease up to 10 years in advance, potentially enabling earlier intervention and treatment in primary healthcare settings.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is advocating for a reform in Medicare's physician compensation, which currently overpays specialists and underpays primary care doctors. This imbalance, influenced by the American Medical Association's Relative Value Scale Update Committee, contributes to a healthcare system focused on treating illness rather than prevention. Kennedy's proposal, supported by wellness entrepreneurs Calley and Casey Means, aims to shift resources towards primary care, a move that could face opposition from the GOP Doctor's Caucus but find support from left-leaning groups. The reform could potentially improve healthcare outcomes by adjusting the fee schedule to better value primary care services.
Portugal's health system, which emphasizes primary care and public health over expensive treatments, offers lessons for the U.S. as it grapples with high medical costs and declining health outcomes. Despite spending significantly less on healthcare, Portugal boasts a higher life expectancy and ranks highly in global health metrics. The country's approach includes a national health system providing low-cost care, innovative programs like "social prescribing," and a successful drug decriminalization policy. However, challenges remain, such as doctor shortages and long wait times for care.
Forward, a tech-enabled primary care company, has abruptly shut down its operations, closing locations and canceling appointments. The company, which raised $657 million and reached a $1 billion valuation, announced the closure on its website, affecting nearly 200 employees. Forward had recently introduced AI-based CarePods in various cities, aiming to expand its healthcare services. The company is providing guidance for patients to access their medical records and find new providers. This development marks a significant shift for the healthcare "unicorn" that sought to revolutionize primary care.