Author(s)

Lawrence W. Gernon^1,2,3, Sommer Aldulaimi⁴

¹Global and National Security Policy Institute, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
²Department of Emergency Medicine, Presbyterian Healthcare Services, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
³Department of Clinical Medicine, Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, Las Cruces, NM, USA.
⁴Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.

This review examines the root causes of the primary care shortage in the US, which began well before the COVID-19 pandemic. With extended life expectancies, we are witnessing an increase in noncommunicable diseases, necessitating increased funding for training, case and care management, and partnerships with academic institutions, technology firms, health insurers, federal, state, and community stakeholders to ensure the future of primary healthcare services is vibrant and sustainable.

Primary Care Shortages, Chronic Disease Management, Chronic Diseases, Noncommunicable Diseases, Non-Physician Providers, Team-Based Primary Care, Rural and Urban Health Services, Medical School and Residency Training Programs, Telehealth, Artificial Intelligence, Provider Burnout, Health Insurance, Emergency Rooms, Global Health, General Practitioners, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Medical Insurance, Primary Health Care, Primary Care Providers

Gernon, L. and Aldulaimi, S. (2025) Is Primary Care in the United States on Life Support?. Health, 17, 1163-1174. doi: 10.4236/health.2025.179076.