Bruce Scott, MD, on why patients are having difficulties getting doctor appointments

Physician availability is becoming more of a challenge nationwide, as patients face longer waits to get medical care. AMA President Bruce A. Scott, MD, discussed the growing issues affecting patient access in a recent segment on NBC's TODAY Show, calling it "almost crisis level."

Kotb: All right. It is 8:13. We're back with your health. So if you've noticed that getting a doctor's appointment is becoming increasingly difficult, you are not by yourself.

Jarrett: The health care industry now facing a growing number of challenges, of course. And some patients say their health is suffering because of it. NBC'S Morgan Chesky has that story. Morgan, good morning.

Chesky: Yeah, guys, good morning. And these numbers really speak for themselves here. A recent survey found Portland, Oregon, has the highest average new patient wait time at nearly 46 days. But patients in other major cities say it's not unusual to wait a month or even longer to be seen for medical care. Some doctors say they're doing more for their patients for less money, and that their time is being stretched incredibly thin.

And now both sides are searching for a solution. It seems these days, trying to get an appointment with a health care professional is becoming increasingly challenging, with many patients waiting days, weeks, or even months to be seen.

Patient: I live in a big city. I can't get in for a month.

Patient: Can I get an appointment, maybe sometime this week, to see the doctor? They're like, no, sorry, we're booked two months in advance.

Chesky: The numbers show it's becoming a more common occurrence nationwide. One study found a third of patients say they've been unable to see a doctor in the past year due to availability issues. And for those who were able to get an appointment, nearly 1 in 5 patients had to wait anywhere from 1 to 3 months to be seen.

Holmes: It's incredibly frustrating.

Chesky: When 26-year-old Victoria Holmes faced a four month wait for a neurology appointment in Washington, DC, where she lives, she sought treatment in her hometown of Dallas, Texas.

Holmes: I literally have to take the desperate measure of going home to Dallas just to see a neurologist, because I'm terrified that there's something wrong with me.

Chesky: It's a major frustration for both patients and doctors.

Dr. Scott: We all became physicians to take care of patients, and that is getting tougher every day.

Chesky: Doctor Bruce Scott is the president of the American Medical Association and an ear, nose and throat physician in Louisville, Kentucky.

Dr. Scott: Right now, things are at almost crisis level and physicians are literally closing their practices.

Chesky: Medical professionals say it's the result of a growing population needing health care, along with an aging physician workforce that's burning out, due in part to time-consuming administrative paperwork from insurance companies and reduced physician reimbursement. Some doctors are now turning to concierge services to reduce the number of patients they see, charging hundreds or even thousands of dollars for their care. Others are passing administrative fees onto patients, forcing many to find new doctors.

Dr. Scott: I think we're facing even a worsening problem in the future unless something changes.

The U.S. is facing a physician shortage, in primary care and many specialties, which can lead to longer wait times for patients and reduced access to care. Learn more about this current physician shortage and how the AMA is helping to address it.

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