Over 1,000 primary care clinicians responded to the latest survey (round 25). Responses came from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico. Nearly half (48%) of respondents came from five states: Texas, Oregon, Virginia, Indiana, and California. About three-quarters of responses came from primary care physicians (MDs and DOs); nurse practitioners represented 13% of responses, followed by PAs (3%), Phd and PharmD (each less than 1%), and other (6%). That majority (72%) specializes in family medicine, followed by internal medicine (12%), pediatrics (6%), geriatrics (3%) mental/behavioral health (1%), pharmacy (<1%), and other (5%). 45% of respondents are employed by a hospital or health system; 30% are an owner or partner in their practice; 15% are employees of an independent practice; and 13% are self-employed. A third practice at a designated PCMH, and a fifth work in a rural setting. Nearly 60% of respondents work at a practice with nine or fewer clinicians.
Round 25 of the clinician survey was fielded January 15-19, 2021. Total responses: 1,065.
Primary care is already advancing vaccine efforts. Respondents report supporting the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in several ways:
referrals: 47% are referring patients to a known source when they call to ask for the vaccine
education: 42% have educational information in their practice to share with patients
outreach: 30% are proactively notifying all their patients about how to get the vaccine
For some, the difference is being part of a health system: 44% report that their local health systems can get the vaccine, but small or independent practices cannot. A majority of respondents believe primary care should be partnering with public health (65%) and local health systems (62%) in COVID-19 vaccine delivery.
More primary care clinicians are receiving shots. The vast majority (89%) of surveyed clinicians say that have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Now only 6% of respondents say that they can’t get the vaccine for their practice's clinicians or staff. Yet vaccine hesitancy exists even among primary care: 13% report having clinicians in their office who are against use of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Telehealth is here to stay. The pandemic necessitated a quick (and often bumpy) transition to telehealth for many clinicians, but many say that process has given them confidence to use virtual technology for care. 70% of respondents say they have gained confidence in their use of telehealth during the pandemic, with 45% reporting that they are still using video-based care for at least a fifth of their patients. 60% report that increased use of telehealth “will now always be a part of my practice.”
Vaccines offer hope, but over half still say that now is worse than any other point in the pandemic. 55% of those surveyed say this surge is “much worse” than any previous point in the pandemic. A not-insignificant portion of clinicians (15%) personally know primary care practices that have closed, and 35% personally know clinicians who have quit or retired early because of the pandemic. Nearly a third (32%) continue to limit in-person visits, even for non-respiratory illnesses.
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Are you a physician, nurse practitioner, or PA working in primary care?
Help PCC and the Larry A. Green Center track how your practice is responding to the COVID-19 outbreak by completing the Green Center's occasional survey.