Table 3. Examples of the role of empanelment in the four key functions of primary health care.

Functions of PHC	Role of Empanelment
First-contact access	Empanelment is one of the primary enablers of making primary health care (PHC) the first point of contact for most people, most of the time. By establishing a system in which providers know the individuals for whom they are responsible, empanelment facilitates the delivery of more proactive outreach and care services. Similarly, within a system of empanelment, all individuals know who is responsible for their care and where they can go to receive services when needed. The establishment of panels also supports implementation of risk stratification systems which can be used to improve the accessibility of primary care services for those most in need 21.
Continuous	Empanelment establishes the basis for longitudinal relationships between individuals and their care provider/care team that can foster relational, managerial, and informational continuity over time 22. By designating a “home” for all people at the PHC level, empanelment facilitates both horizontal and vertical integration of care ensuring that individuals’ holistic care needs can be met at the PHC level and supporting informational continuity as people move between levels of care in the system.
Coordinated	Empanelment establishes the denominator of individuals for whom a specific facility/provider/care team is responsible and can be used to support the development and implementation of clinical pathways and dual referral systems. Patient panels provide a critical input for tracking patient movement through the health system to support patients during care transitions and improve coordination across different providers and levels of care.
Comprehensive	Empanelment—particularly to multidisciplinary care teams—supports the provision of proactive and comprehensive primary health care services.