Scheduling an annual checkup or securing a more urgent appointment with a healthcare provider is far from routine these days. It is more likely we will be told there are no appointments available within a reasonable time frame. A survey from a physician search and consulting firm found that it takes 26 days on average to schedule a new patient physician appointment. This delay in care thwarts the ability to address and treat preventable conditions in a timely manner, leading to increased morbidity and mortality and ultimately higher costs of health and healthcare.
There are several reasons for today’s provider shortage. On the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic, many healthcare workers are facing burnout, with one survey finding 20% of physicians likely to leave their current practice within two years and one-third planning to cut back on work hours. There is also an increase in unionization efforts: Recently, 75,000 providers and nurses at Kaiser Permanente participated in a three-day strike. This comes on the heels of Northwestern Medical Center facing a unionization vote from both their residents and fellows.
