Seeing a Doctor Doesn’t Have to Be So Frustrating - WSJ
The Wall Street Journal
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Summary
The article discusses the widespread frustration faced by patients attempting to see a doctor, highlighting long wait times for appointments, operational inefficiencies, and the challenge of navigating digital patient portals. Contributing factors include a national shortage of healthcare providers, decreasing rates of Medicare payment affecting physician practices, and the trend toward healthcare consolidation, which can hinder timely access to care. Solutions being explored include centralized patient-access centers, advanced scheduling systems, virtual care options, and changes in appointment management to ensure more efficient and effective patient-doctor interactions. Additionally, the article touches on efforts to streamline post-appointment communications via patient portals and the potential of artificial intelligence in managing patient queries more efficiently.
