Americans face longer wait times and shorter visits amid inflation
- An Axios report reveals that Americans are facing longer wait times and shorter doctor visits due to inflation.
- Surveys indicate that nearly 20% of people wait over two months for a physician, with 43% experiencing longer wait times since the pandemic.
- Experts warn that the situation may worsen, leading to a cycle of increasing demand and diminishing care quality.
A recent Axios report highlights the challenges Americans face in healthcare due to ongoing inflation, leading to longer wait times and shorter visits with doctors. The report indicates that nearly 20% of individuals have experienced waits exceeding two months for a physician appointment, while 43% of patients have noted increased wait times since the pandemic began. This trend is exacerbated by hospitals, such as NYC Health and Hospitals, reducing appointment lengths to 20 minutes to manage patient volume. The average wait for a primary care appointment at NYC Health and Hospitals has nearly doubled, from 12 days to 22 days. Experts attribute these issues to a combination of heightened patient demand post-pandemic, bureaucratic hurdles in health insurance, rising costs, and a growing number of doctors leaving the profession. Robert Pearl, a professor at Stanford University, emphasizes that patients are paying more for healthcare but receiving less in terms of service. The phenomenon of 'shrinkflation' in healthcare is eroding the doctor-patient relationship, prompting many to seek alternatives like urgent care clinics or telehealth services. As demand for healthcare continues to rise, the quality of care is diminishing, creating a cycle where increased demand leads to even less satisfactory care. The report suggests that without significant changes, the situation is likely to worsen, with patients facing even longer wait times and shorter visits in the future. This ongoing crisis in the healthcare sector, which constitutes a significant portion of the U.S. economy, raises concerns about the overall effectiveness and accessibility of medical services for Americans.