Medical Economics Pulse, March 26, 2025: Patients will wait to see their doctor, new tech in maternity care, avoidable deaths rising in America

Hello and welcome to Medical Economics Pulse, a quick-hitting news podcast that keeps busy physicians in the know. We offer concise updates on the most important developments affecting your practice, your bottom line, and the broader health care landscape, delivered to you by our editorial team at Medical Economics.

It’s March 26, 2025, and here are today’s headlines:

It’s no secret that patient trust and satisfaction are deeply tied to continuity of care. According to a new study, patients are increasingly willing to wait longer for appointments if it means seeing their own doctor. In fact, more than half of patients expressed a preference for seeing their primary physician rather than being scheduled with another provider for a sooner appointment. This trend highlights a growing demand for familiarity and consistency, which studies have shown can lead to better health outcomes. For physicians, this underscores the importance of strengthening patient-physician relationships. It also raises questions about the need for practice efficiency and scheduling flexibility to accommodate patient preferences.

Next up, we have an example of technology transforming maternity care. A new platform aims to standardize and modernize maternal health management. The system uses data-driven insights to identify risks and streamline care coordination. By implementing standardized protocols, the technology ensures more consistent care practices across different facilities, reducing variability in maternal health outcomes. For physicians, this represents an opportunity to leverage technology for earlier intervention and improved monitoring of both maternal and fetal health. With the U.S. still grappling with high maternal mortality rates, these innovations could be a game-changer in delivering safer, more reliable care.

Finally, more Americans die from avoidable causes than citizens of any other high-income country. According to a study in JAMA Internal Medicine, the U.S. has the highest rate of preventable deaths from conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. The report highlights systemic issues, including delayed access to care, inconsistent preventive screening, and fragmented care coordination. For physicians, it reinforces the need for proactive patient engagement, improved chronic disease management, and better coordination with specialists. It also emphasizes the critical role of health policies that support preventive care and access to treatment.

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