Patients in Peril: The Demise of Primary Care in America

Once, Americans could count on having a personal or primary care physician who would see patients for new or chronic problems, whether in the office or the hospital. The appeal of such a system is more than psychological, for both primary care and continuity of care with a physician over time are associated with improved patient care, greater patient satisfaction, and lower overall costs.

These days are ending as primary care in the United States is rapidly disappearing. Where once 80% of A...