Monday, February 27, 2023

U.S. health care is causing patient burnout

Plus more health news |

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Long waits, short appointments, huge bills—and burned-out patients
By Jamie Ducharme
Health Correspondent

Confession: I’ve lived in New York City for more than five years, and I still haven’t gotten around to finding a primary-care doctor here. The idea of searching for a provider who’s conveniently located, in my insurance network, and (perhaps hardest of all) accepting new patients makes my eyes glaze over.

My own experience is just one small example of a phenomenon we’ve dubbed “patient burnout.” To put it bluntly, going to the doctor in the U.S. often sucks. Patients are tired of the long waits, rushed appointments, and high bills, and like I did, they’re responding by delaying or avoiding care entirely, which could have consequences for both individual and public health.

There’s no easy solution to the problem. But, even without huge structural changes, the health care system could become more patient-centric. One burned-out patient suggested things like centralized medical-record databases that multiple providers could access and online directories of doctors currently accepting new patients. These innovations wouldn’t fix everything, she said, but they’d be a step in the right direction.

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What else to read
People Who Think They’re Attractive Are Less Likely to Wear Masks, Study Says
By Jamie Ducharme
"Mask-fishing" is real, researchers find.
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Biden Administration Moves to Limit Telehealth Prescriptions for Some Drugs
By AMANDA SEITZ and LINDSAY WHITEHURST / AP
The proposal could overhaul the way millions of Americans get some prescriptions.
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This Is the Best Time of Day to Work Out, According to Science
By Jamie Ducharme
If you want to optimize your workouts to get the widest range of benefits, you might want to try exercising in the morning. (Originally published in 2019.)
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How to Maintain Your Social Life When You Have IBD
By Elizabeth Millard
Keeping connections strong can boost your health, but it's challenging when you're anxious about flare-ups.
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6 Surprising Things You Think Are Making You Happy—But Are Doing the Opposite
By Angela Haupt
Chasing career success, dodging negative emotions, and living in a city all make the list.
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ONE LAST READ
The tattoos that were meant to fade—but still haven't

Ephemeral—a chain of tattoo studios that use proprietary ink designed to fade out after about a year—is in trouble with customers following complaints about tattoos that have overstayed their welcome.

The company has promised a full refund to anyone with ink still showing after three years, but the owners of many a smudged tattoo remain frustrated. As New York Times writer Callie Holtermann points out, tattoo ink is mostly unregulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

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Today's newsletter was written by Jamie Ducharme and Haley Weiss, and edited by Angela Haupt.

 
 
 
 
 
 

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