Intentionality Required to Equip a Diverse Physician Workforce with Tools and Infrastructure to Deliver Comprehensive Care.

Abstract

Family physicians who self-identify as Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) are more likely to provide care to historically marginalized patients and provide care in disadvantaged areas compared with their White counterparts. However, these physicians also tend to have a narrower scope of practice. Broader scope of practice, determined by the Scope of Practice for Primary Care score, is associated with higher quality of care. Therefore, historically marginalized patients and those in disadvantaged areas would greatly benefit from a physician workforce with a broad scope of practice to help combat long standing and pervasive health inequities. This commentary will visit the context of this issue and provide suggestions to equip and support a diverse physician workforce to deliver trusted and comprehensive health care.