Primary Care Access During the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Simulated Patient Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Primary care practices have experienced major strains during the COVID-19 pandemic, such that patients newly seeking care may face potential barriers to timely visits.

Objective

To quantify availability and wait times for new patient appointments in primary care and to describe how primary care practices are guiding patients with suspected COVID-19.

Design

Trained callers conducted simulated patient calls to 800 randomly sampled primary care practices between September 14, 2020, and September 28, 2020.

Participants

We extracted complete primary care physician listings from large commercial insurance networks in four geographically dispersed states between September 10 and 14, 2020 (n=11,521). After excluding non-physician providers and removing dupli

SUBMITTER: Kyle MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8075018 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature