Strengthening the Front Door of Care

By Keith Bricking, MD, chief clinical officer, Premier Health

Strong primary care is critical to access, quality, and population health, and remains a strategic priority for Premier Health. The Premier Health Primary Care Institute strengthens access and coordination across the region. By aligning primary care, education, and population health, it supports quality care and long‑term sustainability.

This work is closely aligned with our long‑standing academic partnership with Wright State University’s Boonshoft School of Medicine. Recently ranked No. 1 in Ohio by U.S. News and World Report for producing primary care physicians, Wright State plays a critical role in strengthening the primary care workforce. Nearly 40 percent of its graduates enter primary care, many of whom remain in Ohio, helping expand access and support care across our communities.

The Primary Care Institute is led through a dyad model by Mark E. Williams, MD, Chair of the Primary Care Institute, and Brian Schulze, System Vice President. This leadership structure supports alignment across the ambulatory network, consistent clinical standards, and strong system performance. Dr. Williams assumed the role of Chair effective March 1, 2026, and continues to care for patients within the primary care network.

By more closely integrating primary care with specialty services, education, and population health initiatives, the Institute improves access, strengthens care coordination, and supports effective population management—allowing providers to focus on delivering high‑quality, patient‑centered care.

Did You Know? Primary Care Institute Clinical Snapshot:

• The Institute includes 241 primary care providers and 32 urgent care providers across the system.
• Care is delivered through 48 primary care locations and 8 urgent care sites.
• Primary care teams completed 686,379 patient visits last year.
• Same‑day appointment slots are available across all practices, with additional openings released overnight for next‑day scheduling.
• 194 providers offer online scheduling, and 169 are currently accepting new patients.
• Primary care supports 251,157 attributed lives across the region.
• Practices completed 41,165 new patient visits in 2025.
• Approximately 30,000 Medicare Advantage lives are supported through Senior Health Connect with agilon health.
• Patient experience performance exceeds the 90th percentile in 7 of 8 service domains.
• Quality performance ranks among top national performers, including a 4.31‑star Anthem score and a 90 percent continuity‑of‑care rate across approximately 169,000 annual referrals.

As Premier Health continues to grow as an academic health system, the Primary Care Institute will play a central role in shaping how care is delivered, strengthening access, supporting providers, and improving the health of the communities we serve. 

Back to the May 2026 Premier Pulse