Sharing the Care to Improve Access to Primary Care

Gaining prompt access to primary care is a growing concern for all American adults. In Massachusetts, average wait times for new patients to obtain an internal-medicine appointment rose by 82% in the 2 years after health insurance coverage was expanded; current wait times average 36 days for family medicine and 48 days for internal medicine.1 In a 2011 national survey, 57% of patients who were sick and needed medical attention could not obtain access to care promptly, up from 53% in 2006.2 The reason for the access problem is an imbalance between demand for care and capacity to provide care. . . .