Quick Covid-19 Primary Care Survey, Series 23

Abstract

As we begin month 9 of the pandemic, primary care is weaker, patients are sicker, and the pandemic is raging more fiercely. For months, medical groups have raised alarms about the escalating consequences on patients of failing to adequately support primary care during the pandemic: excess mortality, preventable worsening of non-COVID related health conditions, high levels of mental anguish, growing social needs, and surging pandemic misinformation. The impact of inaction is clear. More than half of clinicians report severe/near severe levels of practice stress and growing patient health burden due to delayed or inaccessible care. Nine months in, COVID-19 is again surging, 63% of practices have staff out due to illness or quarantine, 1 in 5 lack sufficient testing supplies, and over half report increased patient distrust of medical information from public leaders.