Wait Times: Direct Primary Care vs. Traditional Primary Care - 2021 Update

In 2019 we discussed the basics of why patients wait a long time to hear back, get through on the phone lines, or be seen with a primary care doctor.  Unfortunately, this problem seems to have worsened acutely with the COVID epidemic. As an update to that blog, we want to begin by highlighting again that according to Merritt Hawkins, the average wait time for a new patient appointment with a primary care doctor is 29 days, up 50% from 2014. In Rhode Island, the wait continues to be much longer. We’ve heard of patients quoted a six to twelve month wait period before they can see a doctor as a new patient! ​

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