CommonHealth: What's Behind The Wait For Primary Care Physicians?

07:24

July 15, 2013

In this Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012 photo Leana Wen, of Boston, left, who is doing her medical residency in emergency medicine at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, speaks with Josh Kosowsky, clinical director of emergency medicine, right, in the emergency department at Brigham and Women's Hospital, in Boston. Wen chose emergency medicine because the hours are more flexible than those of primary care physicians. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Other than your life partner, your primary care doctor may be the most important relationship you'll ever have. But unlike when you're searching for a significant other, there's no match.com for health care. Information is tough to find and, when you finally do pick one, you can't just meet for a quick coffee to see if your interests align. In fact, you'll probably have to wait months for that very first appointment. Well, just how long Massachusetts residents are waiting for primary care — and what it means for our health over all — is outlined in a report released today on patient access to care from the Mass Medical Society's.

Guests

Carrie Goldberg, co-houst of WBUR's CommonHealth site

Amy Whitcomb-Slemmer, executive director of Health Care for All

This segment aired on July 15, 2013.