Nurse Practitioner Advocates for Community-Based Solutions to Address Primary Care Shortages

Lena Esmail, nurse practitioner and CEO of QuickMed, is calling for grassroots solutions to address the growing crisis in healthcare access across the United States. In a recent feature, she outlined how communities can implement practical measures to close care gaps in overlooked regions, emphasizing that meaningful change begins with local residents who understand their neighborhoods' specific needs. Esmail, who leads QuickMed's expanding network of community-based clinics in Ohio, uses her experience to raise awareness about primary care shortages, an urgent yet underreported issue affecting millions of Americans.

According to data from the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration, over 100 million Americans reside in designated Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas. These include small cities, working-class suburbs, and rural regions where residents face prolonged wait times for appointments, rely on emergency rooms for non-urgent needs, and experience disruptions in daily life due to untreated health issues. Esmail observed these challenges firsthand during her nursing career, noting that barriers to access, rather than avoidance, prevent many from receiving necessary care. She founded QuickMed in Liberty, Ohio, with the objective of bringing healthcare closer to where people live, work, and learn.

QuickMed's model utilizes nurse practitioners and physician assistants to deliver affordable, high-quality care through small community clinics and schools. The organization now operates in nine cities, including Akron, Medina, Ravenna, and Columbiana, resulting in faster access to care, reduced strain on hospitals, and fewer missed school and workdays. Esmail advocates for a community-integrated approach, stating that healthcare effectiveness stems from presence rather than scale. While not launching a political campaign, she urges residents, educators, and local officials to examine how care reaches their communities and take actionable steps.

Esmail recommends supporting school-based clinics to improve attendance and reduce emergency room visits, engaging local officials to fund neighborhood clinics with nurse-led models, and encouraging employers or school boards to establish on-site or community health partnerships. She also emphasizes the importance of sharing personal stories about care barriers and volunteering to amplify local efforts. Esmail reframes the future of primary care by highlighting sustainable, community-driven solutions and encourages individuals to reconsider their roles in community health, whether as parents, neighbors, healthcare providers, or policymakers. Her message centers on initiating change within one's immediate environment to address broader healthcare inequities.