In the US, there will be about 328,000 primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants by 2020. Due to the rising need for primary care services, particularly among older folks and people with chronic diseases, this number is anticipated to rise in the upcoming years.
In the US, there are a lot of doctor clinics in addition to primary care physicians. Many of these clinics offer a wide range of services outside of general care, and they range in size and expertise. According to the American Medical Association, there will be 29,000 doctor clinics in the US by 2020.
Patients looking for basic medical care also have the option of visiting retail health clinics, which are frequently found inside pharmacies or other retail establishments. These clinics provide treatments like immunizations, simple lab tests, and treatment for common illnesses and accidents. The staff members are nurse practitioners or physician assistants. According to the Convenient Care Association, there will be 2,000 retail clinics operating in the US by 2020.
A retail health clinic’s purpose is to offer accessible and reasonably priced healthcare to people who might not have access to a primary care physician or who want emergency treatment for a minor illness or injury. Retail clinics can also lessen the burden on emergency rooms, which are frequently crammed with patients and expensive to treat non-emergencies. Retail clinics are not a replacement for thorough primary care, it is crucial to remember, and individuals with complex medical concerns should continue to obtain care from a primary care physician.
The use of urgent care facilities, which offer medical attention for illnesses and injuries that do not pose a life-threatening hazard, has grown in recent years. When a patient needs quick attention, urgent care centers have grown to be a well-liked alternative to emergency rooms and primary care physicians since the first one opened in the US in the 1970s. According to the Urgent Care Association of America, there will be 9,400 urgent care facilities in the US by 2020.
To sum up, primary care physicians, physician clinics, retail health clinics, and urgent care facilities all have significant responsibilities to play in the delivery of healthcare to patients across the US. Even if the number of primary care doctors and clinics is increasing, there is still a great need for more people to have access to healthcare services, especially in underserved areas. Patients can choose the right degree of care for their requirements by being knowledgeable about the many types of healthcare providers and the services they provide.
Although urgent care centers have been operating since the 1970s, their popularity has greatly grown in recent years as a result of its practicality and affordability.