Opinion: Survey of primary care physicians in 11 countries shows where U.S. is lagging and keeping pace

Primary care is the backbone of any high-performing health care system. It works best when primary care providers sit at the center of a patients’ health care experience and are aware not only of their medical needs but also of their social needs: Do they have food, housing, heat, a way to get to their appointments?

Coordinating what can be a complex nexus of specialty care and social services for patients is, shows where the U.S. is falling behind, where we are keeping pace, and possible paths to improvement.