Primary Care Continuity Remains High at Health Centers During COVID

Study finds community health centers sustained strong patient-clinician relationships despite pandemic disruptions.

Mar. 24, 2026 at 8:10am

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A new study examining continuity of care at community health centers from 2019 through 2023 found high rates of patients seeing their regular primary care clinician, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research, which used electronic health record data from a national sample of health centers, showed the median score for the Usual Provider of Care (UPC) index remained at 1 each year, indicating most patients saw the same clinician for the majority of their visits.

Why it matters

Continuity of care is a core tenet of primary care, as it helps build strong patient-provider relationships and improves health outcomes. The findings suggest community health centers were able to maintain these important relationships despite the disruptions of the pandemic, which is significant given their role in serving vulnerable populations.

The details

The study examined data from an average of 186 community health centers and 353,608 patients annually. While the average UPC score dipped slightly to 0.822 in 2020 at the start of the pandemic, it then rebounded to 0.825 in 2021, slightly above the 2019 rate. Factors associated with lower continuity included female gender, Hispanic ethnicity, Black/African American race, having multiple chronic conditions, using telehealth, and receiving care at large clinics.

  • The study looked at continuity of care data from 2019 through 2023.
  • The average UPC score dipped in 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, then rebounded in 2021.

The players

American Academy of Family Physicians

A national medical association that represents family physicians, residents, and medical students, providing advocacy, education, and patient care resources.

Kurt C. Stange, MD, PhD

A professor at Case Western Reserve University who studies community health integration and primary care.

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What they’re saying

“The high rates of continuity suggest that community health centers and their patients sustained strong patient-clinician relationships despite the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic and identify opportunities to improve continuity of care.”

— Kurt C. Stange, Professor, Case Western Reserve University

The takeaway

The findings demonstrate the resilience of community health centers in maintaining strong primary care relationships during a challenging time, underscoring the importance of continuity of care and the role these centers play in serving vulnerable populations.