“Good Care Is Slow Enough to Be Able to Pay Attention”: Primary Care Time Scarcity and Patient Safety (15 February 2024)

Summary

The objective of this study, published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, was to examine near-miss events identified by primary care physicians in which taking additional time improved patient care or prevented harm. Authors conclude:

Primary care physicians identify and address patient safety issues and high-risk situations by spending more time than allotted for a given patient encounter. Current quality metrics do not account for this critical aspect of primary care work. Current healthcare policy and organization create time scarcity. Interventions to address time scarcity and to measure its prevalence and implications for care quality and safety are urgently needed.