Results of Initial Research

• Initial research did not uncover any statistics relevant to pediatrician's and threats against the traditional service model. We did locate information on primary doctors:

Patients & Primary Doctors

• A national poll of 1,200 randomly selected adults conducted in July by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 26% said they did not have a primary care provider. There was a pronounced difference among age groups: 45%of 18- to 29-year-olds had no primary care provider, compared with 28% of those 30 to 49, 18% of those 50 to 64 and 12% age 65 and older. (Kaiser Health News is an editorially independent program of the foundation.)
• “There is a generational shift,” said Dr. Ateev Mehrotra, an internist and associate professor in the Department of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School. “These trends are more evident among millennials, but not unique to them. I think people’s expectations have changed. Convenience [is prized] in almost every aspect of our lives,” from shopping to online banking.
• Office visits to primary-care physicians, doctors who often have an intimate knowledge of their patient’s history, declined 18% over a four-year period for adults under 65, according to the Health Care Cost Institute.
•  Consumer Reports conducted a survey on the main reasons that patients where skipping the doctor. The poll many be viewed here.
• They also shared graphs that showed how many patients have a primary doctor by age, ethnicity, and insurance status. The poll may be viewed here.
• Finally, they shared a graph that shows were patients go for non-emergency care when their regular doctor is not available.
• Almost half the respondents in a 2019 Accenture survey on consumer digital health trends (PDF) say they have used a walk-in or retail clinic, and 29% have tried some form of virtual care. And 18% have used on-demand healthcare services.

Drop-In Clinics

• According to Kaiser Health News, many millennials prefer drop-in clinics, or urgent care.
• They feel it is more convenient, and enjoy the price transparency.

Retail Clinics

• Again, millennials and young adults are attracted to this option for the convenience, ease of getting an appointment, and price transparency.

Nurse Practitioners & Physician Assistants

• Office visits to nurse practitioners and physician assistants spiked 129% from 2015-2019.

Health Plans

• An increasing number of employer-sponsored health insurance enable people to go directly to a specialist and avoid paying extra for a primary-care physician. But the dramatic increase in visits to nurse practitioners and physician assistants did not result in cost savings, the institute said.

Workplace Health Clinics

• Located in or near workplaces, employer-sponsored medical clinics offer care from doctors, N.P.s, and P.A.s. They often also have pharmacy services, physical therapy, and programs to help you stop smoking, lose weight, or eat better. About a third of companies with 5,000 or more employees have opened such a facility, according to the National Association of Worksite Health Centers.