Finding a doctor today can feel impossible. The days of easily scheduling an appointment with a trusted physician are disappearing, and in their place are weeks-long wait times, difficulty accessing specialists, and a growing number of healthcare professionals leaving the field altogether.
According to AARP, for older adults with acute illnesses—”22% of acutely ill patients over 65 had to wait six days or more for a medical appointment” and for mostly healthy people, the problem is worse, “the average wait for new patients to see a physician is 26 days.” (“Where Have all the Doctors Gone?” AARP Bulletin, Jan/Feb 2025 - paywall link).
This isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a crisis in the making. The physician shortage is making it harder for patients to receive timely, quality care. It’s causing delays in diagnoses, increasing the risk of medical complications, and leaving patients frustrated, overwhelmed, and desperate for solutions.
So, what’s behind this growing shortage? And more importantly, what can you do to take control of your healthcare in a system that’s struggling to keep up?
One of the biggest contributors to the doctor shortage is burnout. More physicians than ever before are choosing to retire early or leave medicine altogether.
A 2023 survey from the
American Medical Association (AMA)
found that over 60% of doctors reported symptoms of burnout, citing long hours, excessive paperwork, and a lack of work-life balance. Many doctors say they spend more time dealing with insurance claims, administrative tasks, and electronic health records (EHRs) than they do with patients.
Dr. Michael Hotchkiss, a physician who recently closed his practice after 45 years, summed it up:
“I absolutely love what I do, but it has become unsustainable. Enough is enough.”He also noted that medical malpractice insurance had risen so high that practicing is not as financially feasible as it used to be.
The demand for doctors is rising, but the supply is shrinking.
This growing gap means that even patients with serious conditions often have to wait weeks or months before they can see a specialist.
More physicians are no longer working in independent practices.
As
AARP
describes it, “Many doctors who used to own independent practices are now finding it impossible to do so given the financial pressures on them.”
This shift has eroded doctor-patient relationships, making it harder for patients to build long-term connections with providers who truly understand their medical history.
For patients, the physician shortage translates into longer wait times, rushed appointments, and difficulty accessing care—especially for specialized conditions. Many people now have to travel hours to see a doctor, or worse, rely on urgent care or emergency rooms for routine issues.
Take these real-life patient experiences:
These aren’t isolated incidents. This is the reality of modern healthcare. But the good news is that there are steps you can take to manage your healthcare effectively—even in a system under strain.
While fixing the physician shortage will require large-scale policy changes, there are practical steps you can take today to improve your access to care.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how we manage healthcare. In a recent study, AI-assisted doctors were found to outperform traditional physicians in diagnostic accuracy. ( Eric Topol, 2024 ).
AI can help by:
Digital health platforms like Selfiie are making it easier to store and share medical records, ensuring that every provider you see has the full picture of your health history.
As we have discussed before, a major barrier to getting quality care is fragmented health information .
If traditional doctors are unavailable, consider:
The long-term solution to the doctor shortage requires systemic change. We support a number of ideas to help, including:
Additionally, it's crucial to support policies that maintain and expand access to telehealth services. Recent proposals by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) aim to modify telemedicine regulations, potentially impacting the prescribing of controlled substances . Telehealth advocates express concern that certain proposed rules may hinder access to necessary treatments. For instance, the DEA's proposed rule would require an in-person exam before prescribing drugs like narcotics and stimulants, which could disrupt care for patients relying on telemedicine. “One of the challenges that so many in the community have with the first proposal the DEA made, and even the second one is that it … limits the care that can be provided. It puts practitioners in really unfortunate situations of being able to provide some care, but maybe not the care that they think is clinically appropriate for their patient. That is not the right way for these rules to move forward.” said Christopher Adamec, executive director of the Alliance for Connected Care.
By advocating for thoughtful policy changes, we can work towards a healthcare system that addresses current shortages while ensuring safe and equitable access to care.
The physician shortage is real, and it’s making it harder for patients to receive the care they need. But patients don’t have to be powerless in the face of this crisis.
By being proactive, embracing AI and digital health solutions, and keeping organized records, you can navigate the system more effectively.
The future of healthcare won’t just rely on more doctors—it will rely on better technology, smarter healthcare systems, and empowered patients. While we wait for larger systemic fixes, taking control of your own health information is the best step you can take today.