The Comprehensiveness of Care Measure

Comprehensiveness of Care is one of the pillars of a high functioning health care system and a defining characteristic of primary care. It fosters more coordinated care, improved utilization and better patient-clinician relationships.

Comprehensiveness is the extent to which primary care practitioners offer a broad range of primary care services, which can help reduce or avoid referrals to specialists and other forms of health care (e.g., specialty care, hospital care).

Alone, delivering comprehensive care can improve access and coordination, while reducing costs. Taken together, comprehensive care and consistent doctor-patient relationships over time improve health outcomes and utilization. It is especially important for access in rural areas.