Massachusetts General Brigham has confirmed it will no longer enroll new primary care patients at its Boston facilities. Some patients reportedly have to wait between six and twelve months for an appointment according to Boston 25 News.
As flu season peaks, halting the acceptance of new patients may place added strain on healthcare resources. Patients without primary care often resort to using emergency rooms and urgent care centers for non-emergency situations. Those conditions could be handled more efficiently with primary care physicians as reported by NBC Boston.
The shortage of primary care physicians is exacerbated due to early retirements prompted by the pandemic. Dr. Barbara Spivak, President of the Massachusetts Medical Society, stated that hiring new primary care doctors has become challenging. Reasons such as demanding electronic health record management and lower income relative to specialties limit the appeal of primary care for medical graduates as per Boston 25 News.
Dr. Spivak proposes long-term solutions, such as models in which medical school loans are forgiven upon committing to a term of service in primary care. Short-term measures include hiring more staff, virtual appointments, and appointments with alternative providers like nurse practitioners and physician assistants.
