90th annual Physician Report: Top nine issues facing primary care

With the increasing availability of online medical information, more patients are turning to Dr. Google before going to see their physicians. While this can lead to higher patient engagement, it also can result in patient misinformation, erroneous self-diagnoses, and conflict between patients and physicians over treatment plans.  

More than one in three physicians are sued for malpractice at some point during their careers, according to AMA’s Division of Economic and Health Policy Research. General surgeons and OB/GYNs are the most likely to be sued followed by emergency physicians, internists (32 percent), family doctors (33 percent), and pediatricians.

Convenient alternatives to the doctor’s office are on the rise. According to Consumer Reports, there are currently over 1,100 CVS MinuteClinics and more than 8,000 urgent care centers in the U.S., with 500 to 600 more expected to open this year. 

A 2018 MGMA report found primary care pay rose more than 10 percent over the past five years, nearly double the rate of specialist pay during the same time period. But even with these gains, primary care docs earned a median income of $257,726 in 2017-while specialists earned a median of $425,136.

Primary care physicians are increasingly plagued by outside interference that hinders their ability to care for patients. Many physicians name prior authorizations as the most common interference, but other sources include the government, hospitals, EHR vendors, and physician advocacy groups.