While visits to dermatology, adult primary care and ophthalmology practices have reached or exceeded pre-pandemic levels, volumes for pulmonology, pediatric and orthopedic specialists are a ways from normal, according to a new report by researchers at Cambridge, Mass.-based Harvard University, Phreesia and The Commonwealth Fund.
Researchers analyzed changes in visit volume for 50,000-plus provider clients of Phreesia, a healthcare technology company. They have tracked changes through a series of updates in late April, mid-May and late June. The latest installment describes visit trends through Aug. 1.
Percent change in visits by provider specialty for the week starting July 26:
1. Dermatology: 8 percent
2. Ophthalmology: -2 percent
3. Adult primary care: -2 percent
4. Oncology: -3 percent
5. OB-GYN: -5 percent
6. Endocrinology: -6 percent
7. Rheumatology: -8 percent
8. Urology: - 8 percent
9. Surgery: -9 percent
10. Allergy/immunology: -12 percent
11. Behavioral health: -15 percent
12. Cardiology: -15 percent
13. Gastroenterology: -16 percent
14. ENT: -17 percent
15. Neurology: -17 percent
16. Orthopedics: -18 percent
17. Pediatrics: -26 percent
18. Pulmonology: -29 percent
Note: Data reflects all in-person visits and telemedicine visits. Visits for nurse practitioners and physician assistants were excluded, and urgent care center visits were excluded for adult primary care and pediatrics.