Becker’s Healthcare Podcast Addressing the Primary Care Shortage with AAFP’s Shawn Martin
Aug 5, 2025
Shawn Martin, Executive Vice President and CEO of the American Academy of Family Physicians, passionately discusses the urgent shortage of primary care physicians in the U.S. He highlights the rise of direct primary care and the need for systemic changes to enhance patient access. Martin delves into the challenges faced by the primary care workforce, the appealing aspects of family medicine, and innovative practice models. He also shares insights on how to address long wait times, ensuring better care delivery for patients across diverse communities.
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Alarming Primary Care Physician Shortage
- Primary care physician availability in the U.S. is at historic lows, lower than many comparable countries.
- Even with nurse practitioners and PAs, the primary care workforce density remains insufficient.
Primary Care's Structural Challenges
- The U.S. primary care system struggles primarily due to its financing and high administrative complexity.
- Effective primary care requires fixing payment models and insurance benefit designs.
Team-Based Primary Care Model
- Primary care works best as a team sport, adapting care levels to patient needs.
- Physicians remain crucial for high-acuity care, while other team members support less complex needs.