best primary care doctors near me :: Article CreatorNo Luck Finding A Primary Care Doctor In Hampton Roads? You're Not Alone.
NORFOLK, Va. — If you're having trouble finding a doctor, you're not alone. There's a shortage of primary care doctors in Hampton Roads and across the country and the problem is growing.
Wednesday News 3 asked people in Hampton Roads how long it's taken them to find a primary care doctor and what the wait times for appointments are like.
"On average it's about three months to see my primary care manager," John Woodard of Chesapeake said. "At times it can be upwards of six months, depending on the time of the year, number of people in the area, the condition, the symptoms, etc..."
The wait can be worse if you're switching primary care doctors or dealing with insurance.
Virginia Beach
Landyn Davis speaks with News 3 as family prepares to leave hospital
John Hood
6:26 PM, May 01, 2024
"It took me a long time to get one. Like three years," said Shay Taylor of Norfolk.
News 3's reporter Erika Craven tried to make an appointment this week. Many doctor's offices weren't accepting new patients. One doctor's office that had openings said she'd have to wait until Feb. 2025.
Long wait times can be frustrating.
"Especially if you feel it's an immediate need issue. Three, four months down the line? You're not going to be sick three, four months down the line. You're sick today not tomorrow," explained Woodard.
"Healthcare is in a little bit of a crisis," said Dr. Steven Pearman, vice president and chief medical officer for primary care for Sentara.
The profession was hit during the pandemic.
Coast Live
Hampton University Proton Cancer Institute's Men's Health Fair on Coast Live
Coast Live
6:15 PM, May 01, 2024
"It was really hard for providers, physicians to get through COVID. There was this initial glow of like we're all heroes and then not too long afterwards there was the anger from patients," explained Dr. Pearman.
But the shortage doesn't just stem from COVID burnout. Dr. Pearman said aging populations with complex health needs put more demand on the system and retiring physicians and pay disparities mean there's a shortage of providers.
"Primary care in general is the lowest or one of the lowest paid specialties. The education costs are the same. The average debt coming out of medical school is about $250,000 so when people are making decisions on what they go into they choose one that's making more and that's pretty obvious. There is also a lack of graduate medical education resources for primary care, we're trying to improve that as well, but there's a disparity there," said Dr. Pearman.
The impact is felt in emergency departments and urgent care.
"How busy are these departments taking on some of the residual patients?" asked News 3 reporter Erika Craven.
Norfolk
Possible MacArthur Center redevelopment could take years to complete
Brendan Ponton
5:18 PM, May 01, 2024
"It depends on the area but they are busy and many people use ER inappropriately, I would say. For things like a sore throat or urinary tract infection, it's probably ten times the cost it would be than if it were done in a primary care setting. So that's another concern; that we're increasing the cost of healthcare by using the ED as a primary care service," said Dr. Pearman.
Primary care, Dr. Pearman said, is the gateway to specialized care and is important to the health of the general population.
"The cost of care goes down the more primary care physicians you have, but also well-being goes up and death and mortality goes down. It's just because we're working on preventing things," said Dr. Pearman.
But the needed care is getting more difficult to come by, both in Hampton Roads and across the country.
Within a decade, reports suggest the U.S. Will be short at least 50,000 physicians. Moreover, last month's report from the Association of American Medical Colleges project the U.S. To face a physician shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036.
Have You Seen Me
Police still seeking answers 7 years after mother, daughter disappearance
Jessica Larché
6:00 AM, Apr 30, 2024
"If you think about 1,500 patients for every provider, that's [hundreds of millions of] people with limited access to primary care. That's scary," said Dr. Pearman. "But you can't do it the way we've been doing it. We have to do something differently."
News 3 first spoke to Dr. Pearman about the physician shortage last year. Since then, he said Sentara's been seeing some progress in addressing the problem. But, he added, nothing will change overnight.
He said Sentara's been working on a team care model to better allocate resources and working to keep new medical professionals in the area.
"Most of Virginia is paid lower than other parts . . . So if you're thinking about trying to hire and retain physicians and they're getting a lot less money for the work they do, it's harder to keep them. But we are working closely with EVMS, the nurse practitioner schools and we're looking at opening up some new residency programs around the area to really integrate our efforts," said Dr. Pearman.
In April Sentara rolled out an AI documentation tool that helps transcribe notes. Since then, Dr. Pearman said providers have seen a difference in workday efficiency.
Positively Hampton Roads
Nat'l Foster Care Month: VB nonprofit celebrates 10 years, holds open house
Anthony Sabella
10:17 AM, May 01, 2024
"By the time I leave my visit, I have my note done. That's huge. Takes a lot of time. You think of five minutes every 15 to 20, 30 minutes to document what you've just done, all these add up to another hour or two in your day. It gives us more time and capacity to see patients," said Dr. Pearman. He expects the tool to improve the work-life balance for medical teams.
Most places in Hampton Roads also offer telehealth.
"Telehealth is actually a lot faster than seeing someone face to face. So, I think they're bridging that gap between the waiting times. As a positive it works out really well for me because I get to do it on my time," said Woodard.
Since the shortage is expected to continue, Dr. Pearman added the best thing you can do is be patient.
"It's not because providers are not willing, it's because they are doing the best they can in a situation that's really [challenging] right now," said Dr. Pearman.
Three Tides' pitchers combine for no-hitter in team's seventh straight win Marc Davis
10:58 PM, May 03, 2024
Strong third period powers Admirals to Game 1 win Marc Davis
10:45 PM, May 03, 2024
Old Dominion men's tennis falls in NCAA Tournament opening round Marc Davis
7:16 PM, May 03, 2024
NSU residence hall evacuated after water pipe bursts overnight Colter Anstaett
4:38 PM, May 03, 2024
30 Sailors, Marines on 2 Norfolk-based hovercraft injured in training exercise Madeline Miller
12:32 PM, May 03, 2024
State funding for Norfolk flood project comes in lower than forecasted Brendan Ponton
6:10 PM, May 02, 2024
Norfolk Grand Jury to hear case of woman killed in wrong-way tunnel crash John Hood
6:03 PM, May 02, 2024
Norfolk residents push for the re-opening of the Berkley Neighborhood Center Conor Hollingsworth
10:19 PM, May 01, 2024
Copyright 2024 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Will Finding A Primary Care Doctor Help Me Conquer Our Infuriating Health Care System? I'm About To Find Out: Eric Foster
ATLANTA -- I would call myself a relatively healthy person. I work out fairly frequently, five to six days per week. I also eat relatively well, with most of my meals including some combination of poultry or fish, brown rice, and broccoli. I've had this general pattern for years now.
I'm 40 years old now. While my food and workout schedule has not changed much, my body certainly has. As a specific example, now things hurt that never used to hurt. My back. My knees, occasionally. Five months ago, I pulled a hamstring for the first time in my life. That traumatic event had me googling life insurance policies the following day.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Finding A Primary Care Provider
In addition to the criteria above, there are a few other things to keep in mind when choosing your doctor for family medicine, pediatrics, women's health, or men's health.
Clinic Location
Choose a primary care doctor who practices in a location that is convenient. That could be a place close to where you live, or may be a clinic that is close to where you work if you think most of your visits will take place during daytime hours. Some physicians and APCs also practice in multiple clinic locations, so you may be able to find a provider who can see you in clinics near your home and your work.
Clinic Hours
Another important thing to check is the hours a clinic is open to see patients. If you have a hard time getting in during "regular" business hours, finding a clinic that has extended morning, evening, and weekend appointments can fit your lifestyle better. This makes it more likely you will be able to get in to see your doctor not only when you are sick, but also for regular check-ups.
Appointment Availability
Before choosing a primary care provider, find out if he or she is accepting new patients. If yes, find out how long it usually takes to get a new appointment. Clinics that have a wait time of several weeks or even months to see a doctor might not be the best choice for every patient, especially those who need to see a doctor frequently for urgent or acute care. Find out if the clinic offers same-day or next-day appointments in case you need to get in for an urgent visit when you get sick. Many of our primary care physicians leave slots open on their schedule for same-day or next-day appointments.
Some doctors also see patients virtually through our Virtual Care services. These visits offer convenient hours and same-day availability for non-emergency care through your smartphone, tablet, or computer.
Certifications and Training
Check the doctor's credentials—not just the type of degree that he or she has, but also whether they stay up-to-date on the latest advances and changes in medicine through board certification or affiliation with groups like:
American Academy of Family Physicians American Academy of Pediatrics American College of Physicians American Geriatrics Society Your Ability to Connect with the Provider
Along with finding a physician or APC who is competent and skilled at what they do, it's important that you feel comfortable with him or her. During your first visit:
Make sure the provider communicates with you in a way you understand. Make sure you feel comfortable asking questions and discussing your health concerns. Find out how you can communicate with the doctor's office. Many offer electronic communication through an online patient portal to make it easy to ask simple questions, receive lab results, or get medication refills between appointments. Evaluate the staff in the office (like nurses, medical assistants, and receptionists) to ensure you are comfortable with them, since you will talk to them to schedule appointments, help with medication refills, and more.
Comments
Post a Comment