One Of The Primary Benefits Of A Survey Is That They __________.

Perspective from Jack Westfall, MD, MPH

Perspective from Michael DellaVecchia, MD, PhD, FACS

Source/Disclosures

Disclosures: Healio Primary Care could not confirm relevant financial disclosures at the time of publication.

April 22, 2021

2 min read

Survey shows more primary care practices are administering COVID-19 vaccines

Perspective from Jack Westfall, MD, MPH

Perspective from Michael DellaVecchia, MD, PhD, FACS

Source/Disclosures

Disclosures: Healio Primary Care could not confirm relevant financial disclosures at the time of publication.

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In a recent survey, more than one-third of primary care clinicians said their practice was providing COVID-19 vaccines to patients.

However, as the number of primary care practices administering COVID-19 vaccines rises, so do levels of burnout and workloads, according to the survey, which was conducted through a collaboration between the Primary Care Collaborative, Larry A. Green Center and 3rd Conversation.

"Primary care is now a key means for getting shots in Americans' arms." Ann Greiner

"Primary care is now a key means for getting shots in Americans' arms, just as practices are facing pent-up patient demand for care and worsening mental health and social vulnerabilities," Ann Greiner, president and CEO of the Primary Care Collaborative, said in a press release.

Overall, 657 clinicians across 48 states, Washington D.C. and Guam responded to the survey. Among them, 38% reported that their practice is administering COVID-19 vaccines, 42% reported partnering with public health organizations and 46% reported partnering with local organizations or government officials to prioritize people for vaccination, representing an improvement from earlier surveys. Nonetheless, only 19% of respondents indicated that their practice received enough vaccines for their patients and 23% said they had "no idea" whether their patients were vaccinated, according to the Primary Care Collaborative.

Furthermore, the survey revealed that the pandemic is taking a toll on clinicians' mental health.

"Primary care never hit the pause button. Without funding and without inclusion in pandemic-relief planning, primary care has extended hours and services, deferred salaries and waived co-pays in order to meet the health needs of the population, and yet we have failed to have its back," Rebecca Etz , PhD, codirector of the Larry A. Green Center, said in the press release. "How much data must we collect on its vulnerabilities, and how long before policymakers provide them with the support they've earned and deserve?"

The survey data showed that 71% of clinicians reported their burnout or mental exhaustion levels reached "all-time highs," and 40% reported similar levels of burnout in their practices.

In addition, two in five clinicians said they required mental health support as a result of the pandemic, but these numbers are "likely underreported," according to an executive summary of the data. Among nearly 40% who reported the same level of COVID-19 strain on their practices as in May 2020, just over half said they have adjusted to the strain, while 37% reported it is getting better and 5% reported that it is getting worse and they are "really struggling."

The strain comes along with a more than 200% increase in health screenings vs. May 2020, exacerbated in 27% of practices that reported being unable to fill clinician positions and 29% of practices that have been understaffed due to illness or quarantine, according to the data.

"Public and private payers should continue providing relief from administrative burdens enacted under the public health emergency and dramatically increase fiscal relief for primary care," Greiner said in the release. "Strengthening primary care will pay dividends: getting the country more quickly to herd immunity and a return to some sense of normalcy."

References:

Primary Care Collaborative. Primary care administering more vaccines as mass immunizations accelerate. https://www.pcpcc.org/2021/04/22/primary-care-administering-more-vaccines-mass-immunizations-accelerate. Accessed April 22, 2021.
Primary Care Collaborative. Primary care & COVID-19: Round 28 survey. https://www.pcpcc.org/2021/04/20/primary-care-covid-19-round-28-survey. Accessed April 22, 2021.
Primary Care Collaborative. Quick COVID-19 primary care survey. https://www.pcpcc.org/sites/default/files/news_files/C19%20Series%2028%20National%20Executive%20Summary.pdf. Accessed April 22, 2021.

Perspective

Jack Westfall, MD, MPH

Primary care physicians provide about half of all vaccines in the United States, [according to] research done by the American Academy of Family Physician's Robert Graham Center. However, primary care was not included in the initial rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in early 2021. More recently, the AAFP has advocated to engage primary care practices to deliver COVID-19 vaccine to their own patients. This has been working well, and now over one-third of primary care clinics report providing some COVID-19 vaccines to their patients. While the same survey found high levels of stress and potential burnout of physicians and staff, one family doctor in New York stated that the opportunity to provide COVID-19 vaccine to his patients has restored his energy and joy of practice. Being part of the solution for our patients can help mitigate fatigue and burnout. Increasing the capacity for primary care to deliver COVID vaccines may be just what the doctor ordered.

Jack Westfall, MD, MPH

Director, Robert Graham Center for Policy Studies in Family Medicine and Primary Care
Family physician, Washington, D.C.

Disclosures: Westfall reports no relevant financial disclosures.

Perspective

Michael DellaVecchia, MD, PhD, FACS

Primary care physicians are the best solution for addressing any vaccine delivery mechanism. Unfortunately, most of primary care is still waiting to be helpful in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. We are ready: all we need is the green flag to go ahead and be provided the vaccine.

A patient's PCP is often the same color as them, lives in the same neighborhood as them and is someone the patient has known for a long time and often trusts. Therefore, using PCPs to help rollout the COVID-19 vaccine could also alleviate vaccine hesitancy.

Michael DellaVecchia, MD, PhD, FACS

President, Pennsylvania Medical Society

Physician, Thomas University Hospital and Main Line Health in southeastern Pennsylvania

Disclosures: DellaVecchia reports no relevant financial disclosures.