Still not sure where I fall on the role of primary care physicians, but this research on the value is quite interesting:
Looking at the medical records of more than 155,000 patients at nine physician practices and four community health centers in the hospital’s primary care network, they found that patients who not only named their own doctors but whose doctors also identified them as “my patient” were more likely to get screenings for cancer, diabetes, and coronary artery disease compared to patients not linked to a personal physician. These patients saw different doctors in a practice or health center.
Although the patient-physician connection was more common among people who are white, speak English, and have health insurance, the bond with a personal physician was a bigger factor than race or ethnicity in whether a patient got guideline-recommended preventive care. Being insured was also not as important as being connected, according to the study, which was completed before Massachusetts passed its healthcare law mandating near-universal coverage.