Some Mass General Brigham primary care practices have limited spots for new patients: ‘Deeply concerned’

Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital have limited spots for new primary care patients at some practices, as the Massachusetts Medical Society warns that the lack of doctors in the state is a “major public health crisis.”

Certain primary care practices in Boston at Mass General Hospital, along with Brigham and Women’s, have limited space for new patients, Mass General Brigham confirmed on Wednesday.

“While capacity for new primary care patients is limited at select practices at Brigham and Women’s and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, there is availability in the Mass General Brigham system for new primary care patients,” the health care giant said in a statement.

“We have primary care availability in practices associated with our community hospitals, in our suburban community physician practices, and with our affiliated practices throughout the region, including One Medical,” Mass General Brigham added. “We can offer appointments with advanced practice providers to new patients.”

The Massachusetts Medical Society sounded the alarm on Wednesday about the need for more primary care doctors in the region. The Bay State medical society’s president said she was “deeply concerned” about the patient situation at Mass General Brigham amid the state’s workforce shortage.

“The dearth of primary care physicians in Massachusetts is no longer a looming public health threat. It is here and represents a major public health crisis that requires urgent and sustainable financial investment and actions aimed at recruiting and retaining primary care physicians,” said Massachusetts Medical Society President Barbara Spivak.

“Decreased access to and relationships with a primary care physician will lead to poorer outcomes for patients, especially those from historically underserved populations and those with chronic illnesses and disabilities,” Spivak added. “Loss of primary care options will compound existing challenges with overcrowded emergency departments and, ultimately, increase the cost of delivering health care.”

She listed some key steps to address the doctor workforce shortage: lowering the cost of training new primary care physicians; and pushing for changes that boost practices that prioritize quality over volume and that reduce causes of burnout, including unnecessary administrative burdens.

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Mass General Brigham said it’s working on hiring more staff at primary care practices.

MGB said, “We are also working urgently to increase and expedite access to primary care at our hospitals in Boston by hiring more providers and staff, offering primary care appointments to new patients as they become available, and through innovative solutions like virtual urgent care.”

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