Community-oriented primary care

Abstract

Community-oriented primary care (COPC) combines elements of clinical medicine and public health to provide an effective strategy in tackling today's health problems. A primary care practice or program that develops a partnership with an identified community to describe and prioritize health concerns and design and monitor the impact of an intervention can make a difference to the health of a community. The key ingredient to a successful COPC venture is a motivated practitioner. Familiarizing health care providers with the COPC model will enable them to form enriching relationships with the communities they serve.