Where patients go when primary care waits are too long
Becker's Healthcare April 29, 2024
A growing number of Americans cannot access primary care when it is needed, so they turn to urgent care and telehealth to fill the gaps — but some experts worry they may stop seeking care entirely, Medscape reported April 29.
A Physicians Foundation and Milbank Memorial Fund report found 29% of adults and 14% of children do not have a regular source of care. Many looking for care face waits of six to nine months for a new patient appointment, and established patients can wait days or weeks for a sick visit. One-third of Medicare beneficiaries wait more than a month to see a physician, a report from research firm the Commonwealth Fund found.
“I went to urgent care, and...