Survey identifies COVID-19 strains on primary care practices

A nationwide survey of 580 primary care providers identified several pain points common to these clinicians during the pandemic. A third of practices reported difficulty hiring staff, and 27% of respondents lost colleagues to illness or early retirement. Inadequate personal protective equipment and delays in receiving COVID-19 test results also burdened these practices. Sixty percent were experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases in their communities and half of respondents reported their level of strain as 4 or 5 on a 5-point scale. On a positive note, only 6% reported difficulty paying their bills. (HealthLeaders Media article, 11/23/20)