Office Visits to Primary Care Physicians Down Sharply. November 2018.

In 2012, 51% of office visits were to PCPs; in 2016, the PCP share of total office visits had fallen to 43%, the report notes. Office visits to PCPs declined 18% between 2012 and 2016, from 1510 visits per 1000 members in 2012 to 1237 in 2016.
At the same time, office visits to NPs and PAs jumped by 129%, from 88 visits per 1000 people in 2012 to 201 in 2016. The rate of office visits to specialists and other nonphysician providers remained relatively unchanged over the period.

Office Visits to Primary Care Physicians Down Sharply by Megan Brooks.
 November 15, 2018
 https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/904939?nlid=126228_1521&src=WNL_mdplsfeat_181120_mscpedit_wir&uac=164666HZ&spon=17&impID=1806884&faf=1

       Is this good, or it is bad stat? I really did not understand from the article I read. 
First, if PCP visits go down then it mean population getting healthier. This suppose to be a good news, right? If so then why there are concern that PCP visits are down, and at the same time visits of NP and PAs getting up? Cost of NP is lower then cost of PCP. The cost of PA suppose to be even lower then cost PS. I really do not understand, how PA can work without PCP. It is suppose to be 'assistant' not in any way practitioner, right? In stead we do have appointment to PCP, and seen by PA, and even scribe. This is how PCP and Med Pro serve patients.
       Anyway, Cook Book Primary Care every one house wife can do without any medical degree. No any cost out of pocket, just cost of groceries.
      In every article Diabetics type 2 blamed that we cost too much for taxpayers. If we do not go to medical clinic, then we considered I do know how, but anyway, we lost health assistance. The price for insulin for me, just insulin is $3000 monthly, every month, one month after another. Poverty line, to be qualified for Social Security check and Medicaid only if our income less then $1100 monthly for two persons. Those who today cross Mexico and US border are poor refuge seekers.  They do have Medicaid, SSI for full family, Food Stamps, very low cost housing, and so so so on. I do have nothing.
      How many Americans cannot go to PCP to have regular check-up? No one count.
      Now let us see, what after check up? If diabetes diagnosed then it is type 2, treatment with Metformin and Life Style Modifications. Usually in present time they diagnose it as Metabolic Syndrome. What does it mean? It mean that we can reverse our every day pain with work out and starvation. Diabetics type 2 gone less then 10 years after being diagnosed with diabetes type 2. Now say me, why should I go to PCP to be diagnosed with diabetes type 2? I do know very well how to use cook book therapy. I do not need every one in medical clinic teach me how many times spoon must hit my lips. But if I  do not go to PCP then I can live longer. It is easy to see, diabetics type 2 perish less then 10 years after being diagnosed with diabetes type 2. So, If I delay diabetes type 2 diagnose, and I can do have treatment still with cooking book therapy, then I will live till I still not diagnosed.
Comments to article:

We ONLY go to our doctor if we are seriously ill.  The offices are flooded with third worlders with a huge variety of contagious diseases.  The brown clown allowed everyone over the border without health screening.

Very reasonable comment. Add also what do we have as a result of our visits to PCP?  Unnecessary papers to visits other doctors; Rx to unneeded medicine to destroy healthy well working organs, not needed tests to be done in all offices around the City;  and right to repeat all this circle next month. Plus we have to pay co-pay as add-on to lost time many hours standing in overcrowded  weighting room. No sit for every one.

I was thinking the same thing as well. Patient goes to their PCP but is actually seem by NP/PA who are employed by the MD. The statistics is not the whole picture. VERY MISLEADING information.

My PCP simple refuse to see me at any time.  No, of cause I do have appointments. He cancel then a few days before visit. Then I have to weight another three month to get the same treatment. Last time I saw my PCP last year, and it is already Thanksgiving, end of November. Of cause when I am in office he does not come into room. When NR come to do his job, I am OK with that. She is good nurse, and she always do her job perfect. But often he sent to room his scribe. She rush from to room to his office back and front, back and front. Then finally she state: I will not give Rx to medicine, because of you do not need it.WOW! What I am doing in this room?

I wonder if these patients are choosing midlevels or if they are being forced by insurance or the practice/hospital.  Are patients being educated about this?  Also, it does not address if these midlevel providers are being supervised by physicians.

Good point. Really good point. Who they are, MD in clinic? Are they MD at all?

When u make the job about clicking irrelevant boxes on an EHR, a high school student can be trained to do it. Time for internists to take back control. I am going to be Medicare age in 20 years and want to find a good doctor who has an MD or DO, can actually understand what other consultants write and knows how to coordinate complex care. Primary care is not the same as writing a Z pack script.

There are many comments already, and more to come. Every one of us do have our own reason to do what we do.

via Ravenvoron