Staying Healthy
The secret to finding a primary care provider: Be flexible
Be open to seeing a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant for primary care.
- Reviewed by Anthony L. Komaroff, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Health Letter
Forget being finicky if you're looking for a new primary care physician. It's hard enough just finding one who's taking new patients. That's due to a doctor shortage in the United States, fueled by such factors as population growth, low pay, physician burnout, a lack of required postgraduate training programs, and a wave of retirements.
The shortage is becoming so serious that some states are trying to make it easier for doctors to practice there, or they're creating new medical schools. And Congress is debating how to increase the number of training programs in the country. Those measures aren't going to help you get a new primary care physician anytime soon. So you need to be flexible about the type of health professional you seek. Fortunately, you have options.
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About the Author
Heidi Godman, Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter
About the Reviewer
Anthony L. Komaroff, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Health Letter
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