Primary healthcare in the US is not failing because doctors suddenly stopped caring.
It is failing because independent medical practices are being squeezed from every direction: crushing administrative costs, endless insurance paperwork and claim denials, rising malpractice premiums, expensive electronic record systems, and the financial pressure of trying to stay competitive in a corporate healthcare system.
More and more practices are being absorbed by large hospital systems, private equity groups, and corporate healthcare networks that prioritize volume and profitability over time and continuity of care.
Meanwhile, patients with complex chronic illnesses are expected to fit their entire medical reality into a 15-minute appointment. No doctor, no matter how dedicated, can provide thoughtful, comprehensive care while being forced to rush through packed schedules booked weeks or months out in advance.
Even the most skilled and compassionate physician cannot provide excellent care while being expected to move patients through like an assembly line, with appointment schedules booked months in advance and barely enough time to address one problem before moving on to the next patient.
