Population Health Scholars Program to Bring More Primary Care Physicians to Utah By Elissa M. Ozanne, PhD, Associate Professor, Co-Director of the Graduate Certificate in Population Health Science, and Taylor Dean, MS, Program Manager, Population Health Scholars Program, Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah Utah is one of the fastest-growing states in the nation. Yet it ranks 48th for primary care physicians per 100,000 residents. Let that sink in. Without an adequate supply of primary care physicians nearby, people may forego preventive care. They may neglect to monitor chronic health conditions, skipping cancer screenings and other health checks. Over time, these behaviors can decrease a person’s quality of life or lower their life expectancy. Additionally, Utah’s medical practices aren’t evenly distributed. While about 21 percent of Utah’s population lives in rural areas, only 11 percent of primary care physicians practice there. This means that many Utahns travel farther and wait longer to receive proper care from an already strained system. A Population Health Approach Tackles Social Determinants of Health Convenient access to care is one of a family of factors known as social determinants of health. These factors describe barriers to good health that people experience in the communities in which they live. Others include access to education, job opportunities, transportation, nutritious food, clean water, and more. A population health framework integrates social determinants of health and prioritizes health outcomes for all people in a geographic region or health care system. Systems using this approach emphasize preventive care instead of waiting to treat patients after they’ve become ill. UtahAFP.org | 26
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