Why Primary Care?

The evidence shows that the more access a community has to primary care, the lower its morbidity rates and overall healthcare spending. Most low-income communities lack sufficient access to primary care, and residents in these communities are three times more likely than higher income residents to develop a chronic illness, such as diabetes, hypertension and asthmadiseases that can otherwise be prevented or managed in a primary care setting. Expected expansion of health insurance coverage will only add to crisis.

Millions of newly insured people will seek access to primary care, but the undersized and underdeveloped primary care sector will be unable to meet these needs.

How PCDC Helps

PCDC takes on the incredible challenge of building and improving primary care in underserved communities. The first and largest nonprofit in the nation specifically focusing on primary care development, PCDC has created an investment of $250 million in more than 75 primary care projects to build, renovate, and expand health centers in underserved communities. This investment has created capacity to serve more than 550,000 and provide 1.7 million additional visits annually. It has also created more than 2,200 permanent jobs (4,400 with multipliers) and transformed more than 630,000 square feet of space.

PCDC also helps practices deliver high-performing, patient-centered primary care. Using proven strategies, we have worked with more than 400 primary care teams to redesign practices, adopt electronic medical records, prepare for emergencies, and adopt practices to become Patient-Centered Medical Homes. Our work has dramatically improved health center productivity and financial solvency.