"Patient Trust at Risk as Shortage of Primary Care Clinicians Grows"
The nationwide shortage of doctors and other primary care professionals is causing patients to lose trust in the healthcare system. The stress of the pandemic has led many healthcare workers to retire or quit, exacerbating the shortage. As patients are shuffled from one provider to another, their trust in the system is eroding. Community health centers, which serve the uninsured and vulnerable populations, have been hit particularly hard, with workforce attrition rates of up to 50%. The shortage of clinicians has also placed additional burdens on support staff, leading to labor unrest. The staffing shortages come at a time when community health centers are caring for more patients, making it difficult to meet patient demand. Urgent care visits are increasing as patients struggle to get appointments with their primary care providers, further straining the healthcare system.