Nine of 10 American adults report high satisfaction with their primary care physicians, according to a new Physicians Foundation patient survey. Americans also noted their rising frustration over managing increasing healthcare costs and medical debt, however.
The Harris Poll-conducted survey received responses from 1,511 adults between the ages of 27 and 75, who visited the same physician twice in the past year.
Here are seven takeaways:
1. Ninety-six percent of surveyed patients reported their physicians are respectful of them.
2. Of those surveyed, 93 percent are satisfied with their PCP's listening skills.
3. Ninety-two percent of surveyed adults were satisfied with how well their PCP knew their medical history.
4. Of the patients, 62 percent are concerned about medical treatment costs, and 28 percent have missed a medical test, treatment or follow-up in the past 12 months due to costs.
5. Twenty-seven percent of the patients did not fill a prescription in the past 12 months due to cost.
6. The survey asked patients to identify factors driving healthcare costs:
• Cost of prescription drugs — 59 percent
• Fraud — 33 percent
• Social conditions and poverty — 28 percent
• Government mandates — 26 percent
• Aging population — 25 percent
7. The survey asked patients to pick which group impacted available treatment options:
• Health insurance companies — 83 percent
• Physicians — 79 percent
• Pharmaceutical companies — 68 percent
• Federal legislature — 60 percent
• State legislatures — 54 percent
"It is incumbent upon the entire healthcare community to ensure patients have access to quality healthcare services that they feel they can actually afford," said Walker Ray, MD, president, Physicians Foundation. "Otherwise, outcomes suffer."
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