Primary Care Advocacy Tool Kit

Primary Care Advocacy Tool Kit

A Resource for Providers and Users of Primary Care Services

The Society of Primary Care Policy Fellows (SPCPF), in a project funded by a collaborative agreement between the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), developed this educational toolkit to promote access and utilization of primary health care services. Under the leadership of Project Director Anthony Schlaff, MD, MPH, Director of MPH Programs at Tufts University School of Medicine, a distinguished panel of contributors and the project team designed this valuable resource for providers and users of primary care services.

For the health care provider, this toolkit will provide guidance on collaborating with other stakeholders in the health care systems in primary care models and engaging in health care policy change.

For the health care consumer, this toolkit will facilitate increased understanding of the value of primary care and how to access quality primary care.

To use the toolkit, refer to the Table of Contents for the various sections. The links in each section will lead you directly to the papers and tools. We encourage providers and consumers to use sections of interest as needed or the kit in total.

Toolkit Table of Contents

The Value of Primary Care

• An Ideal Vision of Primary Care - the project's perspective on the key concepts of primary care.
• Vignettes – cases that illustrate the role of primary care

Seeking Primary Care Health Services

• Consumer Guide – a guide to finding primary care services.
• Links – primary care and public health provider organizations.

Primary Care Policy Analysis

• Policy Analysis – an examination of why primary care is not the foundation of our health care system.
• Links – background on problems within the US health care system.

Skills and Resources in Policy Development

• Policy Skills – a discussion of the role of primary care providers as key stakeholders in health care policy development.
• Links - resources related to policy development and lobbying

Skills and Resources in Community Coalition-Building

• Consumer and Community Organizing on Health Care – identification of opportunities for collaboration and action to influence health care policy.
• Links - resources related to community advocacy.

Opportunities for Collaboration and Action

• Call for Dialogue and Action – a challenge to provider and users of primary care services.
• Links – community-based and patient-led coalitions.