Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41720503›Full record

ArticleJournal of the American Board of Family Medicine : JABFM

Measuring Primary Care Capacity: Unique Patients Seen per Year and Implications for Workforce Shortages.

Jacqueline B Britz, Adam J Funk, Roy T Sabo, Jong Hyung Lee, Ben Webel, E Marshall Brooks, Scott M Strayer, Evan French, Hannah Shadowen, Lauryn Walker and 3 more

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In one paragraph

Article in Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine : JABFM. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Jacqueline B BritzVirginia Commonwealth University, Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Richmond, VA (JBB, JHL, BW, MB, SMS, HS, AHK); Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Biostatistics, Richmond, VA (AJF, RTS); Virginia Commonwealth University, Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Richmond, VA (EF); Virginia Center for Health Innovation, Richmond, VA (LW); Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Health Policy, Richmond, VA (LW); and The American Board of Family Medicine, Lexington, KY (AB, ZJM).
Adam J FunkVirginia Commonwealth University, Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Richmond, VA (JBB, JHL, BW, MB, SMS, HS, AHK); Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Biostatistics, Richmond, VA (AJF, RTS); Virginia Commonwealth University, Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Richmond, VA (EF); Virginia Center for Health Innovation, Richmond, VA (LW); Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Health Policy, Richmond, VA (LW); and The American Board of Family Medicine, Lexington, KY (AB, ZJM).
Roy T SaboVirginia Commonwealth University, Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Richmond, VA (JBB, JHL, BW, MB, SMS, HS, AHK); Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Biostatistics, Richmond, VA (AJF, RTS); Virginia Commonwealth University, Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Richmond, VA (EF); Virginia Center for Health Innovation, Richmond, VA (LW); Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Health Policy, Richmond, VA (LW); and The American Board of Family Medicine, Lexington, KY (AB, ZJM).
Jong Hyung LeeVirginia Commonwealth University, Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Richmond, VA (JBB, JHL, BW, MB, SMS, HS, AHK); Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Biostatistics, Richmond, VA (AJF, RTS); Virginia Commonwealth University, Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Richmond, VA (EF); Virginia Center for Health Innovation, Richmond, VA (LW); Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Health Policy, Richmond, VA (LW); and The American Board of Family Medicine, Lexington, KY (AB, ZJM).
Ben WebelVirginia Commonwealth University, Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Richmond, VA (JBB, JHL, BW, MB, SMS, HS, AHK); Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Biostatistics, Richmond, VA (AJF, RTS); Virginia Commonwealth University, Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Richmond, VA (EF); Virginia Center for Health Innovation, Richmond, VA (LW); Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Health Policy, Richmond, VA (LW); and The American Board of Family Medicine, Lexington, KY (AB, ZJM).
E Marshall BrooksVirginia Commonwealth University, Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Richmond, VA (JBB, JHL, BW, MB, SMS, HS, AHK); Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Biostatistics, Richmond, VA (AJF, RTS); Virginia Commonwealth University, Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Richmond, VA (EF); Virginia Center for Health Innovation, Richmond, VA (LW); Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Health Policy, Richmond, VA (LW); and The American Board of Family Medicine, Lexington, KY (AB, ZJM).
Scott M StrayerVirginia Commonwealth University, Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Richmond, VA (JBB, JHL, BW, MB, SMS, HS, AHK); Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Biostatistics, Richmond, VA (AJF, RTS); Virginia Commonwealth University, Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Richmond, VA (EF); Virginia Center for Health Innovation, Richmond, VA (LW); Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Health Policy, Richmond, VA (LW); and The American Board of Family Medicine, Lexington, KY (AB, ZJM).
Evan FrenchVirginia Commonwealth University, Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Richmond, VA (JBB, JHL, BW, MB, SMS, HS, AHK); Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Biostatistics, Richmond, VA (AJF, RTS); Virginia Commonwealth University, Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Richmond, VA (EF); Virginia Center for Health Innovation, Richmond, VA (LW); Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Health Policy, Richmond, VA (LW); and The American Board of Family Medicine, Lexington, KY (AB, ZJM).
Hannah ShadowenVirginia Commonwealth University, Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Richmond, VA (JBB, JHL, BW, MB, SMS, HS, AHK); Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Biostatistics, Richmond, VA (AJF, RTS); Virginia Commonwealth University, Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Richmond, VA (EF); Virginia Center for Health Innovation, Richmond, VA (LW); Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Health Policy, Richmond, VA (LW); and The American Board of Family Medicine, Lexington, KY (AB, ZJM).
Lauryn WalkerVirginia Commonwealth University, Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Richmond, VA (JBB, JHL, BW, MB, SMS, HS, AHK); Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Biostatistics, Richmond, VA (AJF, RTS); Virginia Commonwealth University, Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Richmond, VA (EF); Virginia Center for Health Innovation, Richmond, VA (LW); Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Health Policy, Richmond, VA (LW); and The American Board of Family Medicine, Lexington, KY (AB, ZJM).
Andrew BazemoreVirginia Commonwealth University, Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Richmond, VA (JBB, JHL, BW, MB, SMS, HS, AHK); Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Biostatistics, Richmond, VA (AJF, RTS); Virginia Commonwealth University, Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Richmond, VA (EF); Virginia Center for Health Innovation, Richmond, VA (LW); Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Health Policy, Richmond, VA (LW); and The American Board of Family Medicine, Lexington, KY (AB, ZJM).
Zachary J MorganVirginia Commonwealth University, Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Richmond, VA (JBB, JHL, BW, MB, SMS, HS, AHK); Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Biostatistics, Richmond, VA (AJF, RTS); Virginia Commonwealth University, Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Richmond, VA (EF); Virginia Center for Health Innovation, Richmond, VA (LW); Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Health Policy, Richmond, VA (LW); and The American Board of Family Medicine, Lexington, KY (AB, ZJM).
Alex H KristVirginia Commonwealth University, Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Richmond, VA (JBB, JHL, BW, MB, SMS, HS, AHK); Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Biostatistics, Richmond, VA (AJF, RTS); Virginia Commonwealth University, Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Richmond, VA (EF); Virginia Center for Health Innovation, Richmond, VA (LW); Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Health Policy, Richmond, VA (LW); and The American Board of Family Medicine, Lexington, KY (AB, ZJM).

Funding

Wright Regional Center for Clinical and Translational ScienceUM1TR004360 · NCATS · VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY · PI FREDERICK Gerard MOELLER · 2023 to 2026
$16.3M
Virginia Accountable Health Equity and Action Dashboard (VA-AHEAD): Community Framing of Equity Data to Support Clinical and Translational ScienceRC2TR005115 · NCATS · VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY · PI Alexander H Krist · 2024 to 2026
$3.7M
NCATS NIH HHS RC2 TR005115NCATS NIH HHS UM1 TR004360
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThere is a growing primary care workforce shortage. Primary care physicians (PCPs) already have a broad scope of work yet face increasing demands on their time and pressure to see more patients. This analysis aims to update PCP workforce shortage estimates by assessing the number of unique patients seen per year by each PCP in Virginia.

methodsFrom Virginia's all-payer claims database (APCD), we identified the unique number of patients seen annually between 2016 to 2021. We evaluated variation by physicians, practices, and communities by using licensure, claims, census, and Virginia Department of Health clinician survey data for PCPs across family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, and ob-gyn. We conducted iterative bootstrap simulation analyses to estimate the PCP workforce shortage, accounting for panel size and Full-Time Equivalent (FTE).

resultsThere are 4,508 PCPs in Virginia, with 34.2% of PCPs over age 60 compared with 24.0% aged 30 to 49. The median number of unique patients seen by physicians in 2021 was 1,290. On average, physicians had 2,800 total visits annually, and patients were seen 2.12 times per year. PCPs saw more patients if they were aged 40 to 59, worked in health systems, practiced in rural communities, or served communities with lower social needs. Average FTE was 0.847 (SD: 0.215). In 2021, 1,305 additional PCPs were needed for each Virginian to have a PCP, preventing a 28.8% shortfall (95% CI: 27.9%-30.0%). This marks an increase from a 17.7% shortfall in 2016.

conclusionPrimary workforce shortages are more dire than prior estimates when accounting for number of patients seen per year and FTE. The ideal number of patients a PCP can care for should be determined by clinicians and practices, with consideration of patient complexity, physician capacity, and practice resources.

Indexed as

Health WorkforcePhysicians, Primary CarePrimary Health CareAdultFemaleHealth Services AccessibilityHumansMaleMiddle AgedVirginiaWorkforceAccess to Primary CareFamily MedicineHealth PolicyHealth Services AccessibilityHealth WorkforcePractice-Based ResearchPrimary Health CareVirginia

Identifiers

PMID41720503
PMCPMC12978800

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.