Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital have restricted spots for brand new major care sufferers at some practices, because the Massachusetts Medical Society warns that the shortage of docs within the state is a “major public health crisis.”
Certain major care practices in Boston at Mass General Hospital, together with Brigham and Women’s, have restricted area for brand new sufferers, Mass General Brigham confirmed on Wednesday.
“While capacity for new primary care patients is limited at select practices at Brigham and Women’s and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, there is availability in the Mass General Brigham system for new primary care patients,” the well being care large mentioned in an announcement.
“We have primary care availability in practices associated with our community hospitals, in our suburban community physician practices, and with our affiliated practices throughout the region, including One Medical,” Mass General Brigham added. “We can offer appointments with advanced practice providers to new patients.”
The Massachusetts Medical Society sounded the alarm on Wednesday in regards to the want for extra major care docs within the area. The Bay State medical society’s president mentioned she was “deeply concerned” in regards to the affected person state of affairs at Mass General Brigham amid the state’s workforce scarcity.
“The dearth of primary care physicians in Massachusetts is no longer a looming public health threat. It is here and represents a major public health crisis that requires urgent and sustainable financial investment and actions aimed at recruiting and retaining primary care physicians,” mentioned Massachusetts Medical Society President Barbara Spivak.
“Decreased access to and relationships with a primary care physician will lead to poorer outcomes for patients, especially those from historically underserved populations and those with chronic illnesses and disabilities,” Spivak added. “Loss of primary care options will compound existing challenges with overcrowded emergency departments and, ultimately, increase the cost of delivering health care.”
She listed some key steps to handle the physician workforce scarcity: reducing the price of coaching new major care physicians; and pushing for modifications that increase practices that prioritize high quality over quantity and that cut back causes of burnout, together with pointless administrative burdens.
Mass General Brigham mentioned it’s engaged on hiring extra employees at major care practices.
MGB mentioned, “We are also working urgently to increase and expedite access to primary care at our hospitals in Boston by hiring more providers and staff, offering primary care appointments to new patients as they become available, and through innovative solutions like virtual urgent care.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”