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Virtual or In Person: Which Kind of Doctor’s Visit Is Better, and When It Matters

When the covid-19 pandemic swept the country in early 2020 and emptied doctors’ offices nationwide, telemedicine was suddenly thrust into the spotlight. Patients and their physicians turned to virtual visits by video or phone rather than risk meeting face-to-face.

During the early months of the pandemic, telehealth visits for care exploded .

“It was a dramatic shift in one or two weeks that we would expect to happen in a decade,” said Dr. Ateev Mehrotra , a professor at Harvard Medical School whose research focuses on telemedicine and other health care delivery innovations. “It’s great that we served patients, but we did not accumulate the norms and [research] papers that we would normally accumulate so that we can know what works and what doesn’t work.”

Now, three years after the start of the pandemic, we’re still figuring that out. Although telehealth use has moderated, it has found a role in many physician practices, and it is popular with patients.

More than any other field, behavioral health has embraced telehealth. Mental health conditions accounted for just under two-thirds of telehealth claims in November 2022, according to FairHealth , a nonprofit that manages a large database of private and Medicare insurance claims.

Telehealth appeals to a variety of patients because it allows them to simply log on to their computer and avoid the time and expense of driving, parking, and arranging child care that an in-person visit often requires.

But how do you gauge when to opt for a telehealth visit versus seeing your doctor in person? There are no hard-and-fast rules, but here’s some guidance about when it may make more sense to choose one or the other.

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If It’s Your First Visit

“As a patient, you’re trying to evaluate the physician, to see if you can talk to them and trust them,” said Dr. Russell Kohl , a family physician and board member of the American Academy of Family Physicians. “It’s hard to do that on a telemedicine visit.”

Maybe your insurance has changed and you need a new primary care doctor or OB-GYN. Or perhaps you have a chronic condition and your doctor has suggested adding a specialist to the team. A face-to-face visit can help you feel comfortable and confident with their participation.

Sometimes an in-person first visit can help doctors evaluate their patients in nontangible ways, too. After a cancer diagnosis, for example, an oncologist might want to examine the site of a biopsy. But just as important, he might want to assess a patient’s emotional state.

“A diagnosis of cancer is an emotional event; it’s a life-changing moment, and a doctor wants to respond to that,” said Dr. Arif Kamal , an oncologist and the chief patient officer at the American Cancer Society. “There are things you can miss unless you’re sitting a foot or two away from the person.”

Once it’s clearer how the patient is coping and responding to treatment, that’s a good time to discuss incorporating telemedicine visits.

If a Physical Exam Seems Necessary

This may seem like a no-brainer, but there are nuances. Increasingly, monitoring equipment that people can keep at home — a blood pressure cuff, a digital glucometer or stethoscope, a pulse oximeter to measure blood oxygen, or a Doppler monitor that checks a fetus’s heartbeat — may give doctors the information they need, reducing the number of in-person visits required.

Someone’s overall physical health may help tip the scales on whether an in-person exam is needed. A 25-year-old in generally good health is usually a better candidate for telehealth than a 75-year-old with multiple chronic conditions.

But some health complaints typically require an in-person examination, doctors said, such as abdominal pain, severe musculoskeletal pain, or problems related to the eyes and ears.

Abdominal pain could signal trouble with the gallbladder, liver, or appendix, among many other things.

“We wouldn’t know how to evaluate it without an exam,” said Dr. Ryan Mire , an internist who is president of the American College of Physicians.

Unless a doctor does a physical exam, too often children with ear infections receive prescriptions for antibiotics, said Mehrotra, pointing to a study he co-authored comparing prescribing differences between telemedicine visits, urgent care, and primary care visits.

In obstetrics, the pandemic accelerated a gradual shift to fewer in-person prenatal visits. Typically, pregnancy involves 14 in-person visits. Some models now recommend eight or fewer, said Dr. Nathaniel DeNicola, chair of telehealth for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. A study found no significant differences in rates of cesarean deliveries, preterm birth, birth weight, or admissions to the neonatal intensive care unit between women who received up to a dozen prenatal visits in person and those who received a mix of in-person and virtual visits.

Contraception is another area where less may be more, DeNicola said. Patients can discuss the pros and cons of different options virtually and may need to schedule a visit only if they want an IUD inserted.

If Something Is New, or Changes

When a new symptom crops up, patients should generally schedule an in-person visit. Even if the patient has a chronic condition like diabetes or heart disease that is under control and care is managed by a familiar physician, sometimes things change. That usually calls for a face-to-face meeting too.

“I tell my patients, ‘If it’s new symptoms or a worsening of existing symptoms, that probably warrants an in-person visit,’” said Dr. David Cho , a cardiologist who chairs the American College of Cardiology’s Health Care Innovation Council. Changes could include chest pain, losing consciousness, shortness of breath, or swollen legs.

When patients are sitting in front of him in the exam room, Cho can listen to their hearts and lungs and do an EKG if someone has chest pain or palpitations. He’ll check their blood pressure, examine their feet to see if they’re retaining fluid, and look at their neck veins to see if they are bulging .

But all that may not be necessary for a patient with heart failure, for example, whose condition is stable, he said. They can check their own weight and blood pressure at home, and a periodic video visit to check in may suffice.

Video check-ins are effective for many people whose chronic conditions are under control, experts said.

When someone is undergoing treatment for cancer, certain pivotal moments will require a face-to-face meeting, said Kamal, of the American Cancer Society.

“The cancer has changed or the treatment has changed,” he said. “If they’re going to stop chemotherapy, they need to be there in person.”

And one clear recommendation holds for almost all situations: Even if a physician or office scheduler suggests a virtual visit, you don’t have to agree to it.

“As a consumer, you should do what you feel comfortable doing,” said Dr. Joe Kvedar , a professor at Harvard Medical School and immediate past board chairman of the American Telemedicine Association . “And if you really want to be seen in the office, you should make that case.”

Related Topics

• Mental Health
• Telemedicine

Copy And Paste To Republish This Story

By Michelle Andrews March 6, 2023

When the covid-19 pandemic swept the country in early 2020 and emptied doctors’ offices nationwide, telemedicine was suddenly thrust into the spotlight. Patients and their physicians turned to virtual visits by video or phone rather than risk meeting face-to-face.

“It was a dramatic shift in one or two weeks that we would expect to happen in a decade,” said Dr. Ateev Mehrotra , a professor at Harvard Medical School whose research focuses on telemedicine and other health care delivery innovations. “It’s great that we served patients, but we did not accumulate the norms and [research] papers that we would normally accumulate so that we can know what works and what doesn’t work.”

Now, three years after the start of the pandemic, we’re still figuring that out. Although telehealth use has moderated, it has found a role in many physician practices, and it is popular with patients.

But how do you gauge when to opt for a telehealth visit versus seeing your doctor in person? There are no hard-and-fast rules, but here’s some guidance about when it may make more sense to choose one or the other.

If It’s Your First Visit

“As a patient, you’re trying to evaluate the physician, to see if you can talk to them and trust them,” said Dr. Russell Kohl , a family physician and board member of the American Academy of Family Physicians. “It’s hard to do that on a telemedicine visit.”

Sometimes an in-person first visit can help doctors evaluate their patients in nontangible ways, too. After a cancer diagnosis, for example, an oncologist might want to examine the site of a biopsy. But just as important, he might want to assess a patient’s emotional state.

“A diagnosis of cancer is an emotional event; it’s a life-changing moment, and a doctor wants to respond to that,” said Dr. Arif Kamal , an oncologist and the chief patient officer at the American Cancer Society. “There are things you can miss unless you’re sitting a foot or two away from the person.”

Once it’s clearer how the patient is coping and responding to treatment, that’s a good time to discuss incorporating telemedicine visits.

This may seem like a no-brainer, but there are nuances. Increasingly, monitoring equipment that people can keep at home — a blood pressure cuff, a digital glucometer or stethoscope, a pulse oximeter to measure blood oxygen, or a Doppler monitor that checks a fetus’s heartbeat — may give doctors the information they need, reducing the number of in-person visits required.

Someone’s overall physical health may help tip the scales on whether an in-person exam is needed. A 25-year-old in generally good health is usually a better candidate for telehealth than a 75-year-old with multiple chronic conditions.

“We wouldn’t know how to evaluate it without an exam,” said Dr. Ryan Mire , an internist who is president of the American College of Physicians.

“I tell my patients, ‘If it’s new symptoms or a worsening of existing symptoms, that probably warrants an in-person visit,’” said Dr. David Cho , a cardiologist who chairs the American College of Cardiology’s Health Care Innovation Council. Changes could include chest pain, losing consciousness, shortness of breath, or swollen legs.

When patients are sitting in front of him in the exam room, Cho can listen to their hearts and lungs and do an EKG if someone has chest pain or palpitations. He’ll check their blood pressure, examine their feet to see if they’re retaining fluid, and look at their neck veins to see if they are bulging .

“The cancer has changed or the treatment has changed,” he said. “If they’re going to stop chemotherapy, they need to be there in person.”

And one clear recommendation holds for almost all situations: Even if a physician or office scheduler suggests a virtual visit, you don’t have to agree to it.

“As a consumer, you should do what you feel comfortable doing,” said Dr. Joe Kvedar , a professor at Harvard Medical School and immediate past board chairman of the American Telemedicine Association . “And if you really want to be seen in the office, you should make that case.”

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Urgent care

Type of visit: Video visit

Required for treatment: N/A

Live urgent care visits offer personalized discussions with a healthcare provider for a variety of conditions.

We recommend you see an in-person provider for your care if:

• You are experiencing chest pain or palpitations, difficulty speaking or slurred speech, facial droop or numbness, difficulty breathing, difficulty moving or feeling arms or legs, problems with your eyes (other than pink eye), or recently have fainted.
• You are seeking care for ear pain or dental pain.
• You are seeking care for a UTI and your sex assigned at birth is male
• You are pregnant or breastfeeding
• You are seeking controlled substances or durable medical equipment
• You are seeking a physical exam, lab work, or imaging orders
• You are seeking medications for pain, sleep, ADHD or anxiety
• If you are seeking care for strep throat, please note that based on recent clinical guidelines, in-person strep testing is required in many, but not all cases. We do not offer in-person strep testing; however, we can provide guidance on whether it would be appropriate based on your symptoms.

Commonly prescribed medications:

Varies based on patient symptoms. Recommended treatments may include online prescriptions, over-the-counter treatment recommendations, and/or self-care strategies.

Cough, Cold, Sinus Infection

You may be a good candidate for virtual care if:

• You are currently experiencing symptoms consistent with sinusitis, such as runny nose, stuffy nose or congestion
• You have had 3 or more sinus infections within the past year
• Your symptoms have been ongoing for more than 1 month or your symptoms have returned after having recently been treated for sinusitis with antibiotics
• You are having difficulty breathing that is unrelated to nasal congestion, you have pain or stiffness in your neck, changes in vision or a fever greater than 101°F

Depending on your symptoms, our providers may recommend prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, home remedies or seeking in-person care. Prescriptions may include antibiotics (such as Amoxicillin or Augmentin) for sinus infection, Benzonatate (Tessalon Perles) for cough or other symptomatic treatments for colds.

Type of visit: Chat

Required for treatment: Photo of left and/or right eye

• You are experiencing symptoms consistent with pink eye, such as redness, itchiness and crusting of the eye(s)
• You wear contact lenses
• You have a recent history of trauma to the eye or concern about something in your eye
• You have had eye surgery within the past 2 months
• You are experiencing blurred, impaired, or changes in vision, sensitivity to light, flashing lights or floaters, headache with nausea, inability to open eye or keep it open, redness beyond the eye, pain or tenderness in or around the eye

Commonly prescribed medications: Antibiotic eye drops, such as Erythromycin, trimethoprim-polymyxin B and ofloxacin

Required for treatment: Photo of lips

If you are also experiencing an outbreak of genital herpes, please start a genital herpes visit where we can address both oral and genital herpes.

• You have a current oral cold sore outbreak
• You have had 3 or more cold sore outbreaks within the last year
• Your last outbreak was within the past 2 weeks
• You are seeking cold sore suppression/prevention treatment or refills

Commonly prescribed medications: Valacyclovir, Acyclovir, Famiclovir

Type of visit: Chat (ages 18–64); Video Visit (ages 18+)

Required for treatment: Photo of a positive COVID test result from within 5 days of first symptom (such as an at-home test, a test result from Walgreens or another healthcare provider)

• You are interested in a COVID treatment plan that may include Paxlovid
• You are able to upload a photo of your positive COVID test result and you are within 5 days of your first symptoms
• You are experiencing a fever greater than 102°F, dizziness or lightheadedness, chest tightness, chest pain or wheezing, difficulty urinating, lower leg, ankle, or foot swelling, problems with memory and/or confusion, or problems eating/keeping down food or liquids
• You have hepatitis, cirrhosis, elevated liver enzymes or severe renal impairment

Commonly prescribed medications: Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir)

Typical number of refills if prescribed: 1 pack, 0 refills

Required for treatment: Photo of a positive flu test result. If you don’t have a positive flu test, you can schedule a Flu & COVID test for $19.99 at Walgreens.

If you were exposed to someone who tested positive for flu, such as a household member, and you have not been tested for flu, please select Video Visit and you can discuss treatment options with the provider.

• You are able to upload a photo of your positive flu test result with your name, date of birth and date. Or, you were in contact with someone who was diagnosed with flu and you are at high risk for complications from flu (please select Video Visit if you do not have a positive flu test result)
• You have had flu-like symptoms for less than 48 hours, you are at increased risk for complications from flu or you are in contact with someone who is immunocompromised

Commonly prescribed medications: Tamiflu (Oseltamivir)

Birth Control

Required for treatment: Documented blood pressure reading within the last 12 months, such as a photo of a medical record from a patient portal or an at-home blood pressure monitor reading. Photo should include your name, date of birth and date of reading. Don’t have a recent blood pressure reading? Get a blood pressure monitor from Walgreens with 30-minute Pickup or FREE 1-hour Delivery on orders $35+.

• You are interested in the following forms of birth control: oral pill, patch, vaginal ring, diaphragm and internal condoms, starting a new type of birth control or refilling your current form of birth control
• You are a biological female of reproductive age
• You can provide documentation of a blood pressure reading from within the past year
• You use tobacco and are 35 years or older
• You have a history of breast cancer, bariatric surgery, stroke, heart disease, cirrhosis or lupus
• You are seeking Depo-Provera, Phexxi, temporary menses delay, IUD or Nexplanon.

Commonly prescribed medications: Sprintec, Junel, Norethindrone (such as Ortho Micronor), Nuvaring

Typical number of refills if prescribed: One-year supply

Urinary tract infection

Type of visit: Video Visit

• You have had symptoms for less than 2 weeks (pain with peeing, urgent need to pee and/or frequent peeing)
• This is your first UTI in the past 3 months
• Your sex assigned at birth was female
• You are experiencing fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, flank, back, or abdominal pain or unusual vaginal discharge

Commonly prescribed medications: Macrobid, Bactrim, Cephalexin

Emergency contraception

Type of visit: Chat or Video Visit, varies by state. Before you pay for your visit, we will let you know if we need to conduct a Video Visit in your state.

Required for treatment: Height and weight

• You are a biological female
• You had unprotected sex within the past 5 days
• You are vomiting
• You have a history of malabsorptive bariatric procedures

Commonly prescribed medications: Ella (ulipristal), Plan B (levonorgestrel)

Plan B and Ella are both safe and effective forms of emergency contraception to reduce the risk of unintended pregnancy. Plan B is available over the counter while Ella is only available via prescription. Ella can be taken up to 5 days after unprotected sex and has a higher effectiveness rate compared to Plan B. Cost of over-the-counter versus prescription medications may vary based on health insurance coverage.

Yeast Infection

• You are currently experiencing symptoms consistent with yeast infection, such as itchiness, burning and irritation of the vagina
• You have had a yeast infection in the past
• Your sex assigned at birth is female
• You are experiencing abdominal, pelvic or back pain
• You are experiencing nausea, vomiting, fever or chills
• You have a concern for STIs or bacterial infection
• You have visible vaginal lesions
• You experience recurrent yeast infections (4 or more per year)
• You have a recurrent yeast infection within 7 days of recent treatment
• You are seeking preventative treatment

Commonly prescribed medications: Fluconazole

Asthma medication refill

Required for treatment: Photo of your most recent asthma prescription (pill bottle, inhaler or medical record)

• You need a refill (30 day supply) of your most recent asthma medication
• You do not have a prior history of asthma
• You have poorly controlled asthma
• You are currently experiencing an asthma exacerbation
• You have concern for an underlying infection
• It has been more than 1 year since you have last had an asthma management visit with your PCP or specialist

Please note:

• We do not offer treatment adjustments
• We do not offer steroids for exacerbations
• Daily medications will only be refilled if you have been less than 2 weeks without medication
• Episodic medications (such as inhalers) will only be refilled if you have been less than 6 months without medication

Commonly prescribed medications: Albuterol inhaler refills, refills of your current daily medication for asthma

Typical number of refills if prescribed: 30 day supply with 0 refills per year

Patients may not receive more than one prescription every 12 months through this service

Seasonal Allergies

Required for treatment: Photos of eyes, nose and back of throat

• You have recurring seasonal allergy symptoms, which may impact the eyes, nose, sinuses and skin (such as clear nasal discharge, past history of seasonal or environmental allergies and seeking symtomatic relief) (If you are not sure what is causing your symptoms, we recommend seeking care through the Urgent Care visit or Cold, Cough, Sinus Infection visit.)
• You have eye or facial pain, fever or chills, are coughing up yellow or green phlegm, or have yellow or green drainage from the nose
• You are having a severe allergic reaction (such as, shortness of breath, wheezing, swollen lips or tongue)
• You may have a viral infection, eye injury, abrasion or ulceration
• You have a history of asthma

Commonly prescribed medications: Montelukast (Singulair), Fluticasone nasal spray (Flonase), Cetirizine (Zyrtec)

Providers may prescribe medications that are also available over-the-counter. OTC medications may not be covered by insurance and it may be cheaper to get medication through a prescription. Insurance coverage and pricing varies by plan. Typical number of refills if prescribed: Montelukast: 90 tablets, 1 refill

Blood Pressure Medication Refill

Required for treatment: Photo of current prescriptions for high blood pressure (picture of pill bottle(s) or medical record)

• You have been previously diagnosed with hypertension and are seeking a refill of your current medication
• You are on 3 or more high blood pressure medications
• You are experiencing headache, blurry vision, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, severe back pain, confusion, lightheadedness, fainting, dry mouth or thirst, shortness of breath, chest pain or tightness, palpitations or racing heart
• You are seeking a refill of a blood thinner medication
• You have been off of your current medication for more than a week

Commonly prescribed medications: Diuretics, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, Beta Blockers, & Calcium channel blockers, including combination pills

Typical number of refills if prescribed: We provide one 90-day refill within a 12 month period if your provider determines it is clinically appropriate for you. If you need another refill within 12 months, please follow up with your primary care provider.

Erectile dysfunction

Required for treatment:

• Proof of most recent ED prescription (photo of pill bottle or medical record)
• Proof of documented blood pressure reading within the last 12 months (such as a photo of a medical record from a patient portal or an at-home blood pressure monitor reading) Don’t have a recent blood pressure reading? Get a blood pressure monitor from Walgreens with 30-minute Pickup or FREE 1-hour Delivery on orders $35+.
• You have been previously diagnosed with erectile dysfunction and are overdue for a provider visit or need a refill of your medication
• You are a biological male
• You have a documented blood pressure reading within the last 12 months
• You can provide a photo of your most recent ED prescription (pill bottle or medical record)
• You have had elevated blood pressure in the past 12 months
• You have a family history of heart attack or heart disease in persons less than 55 years of age
• You have recently experienced chest pain, dizziness, fainting or seizures or have heart disease

Commonly prescribed medications: Cialis (tadalafil), Viagra (sildenafil), Levitra (vardenafil)

Typical number of refills if prescribed: 90 day supply with 3 refills. Early refills will not be provided.

Genital herpes

Required for treatment: Photo of your most recent prescription medication used for genital herpes

• You have a current outbreak of genital herpes
• You have previously been diagnosed and treated for genital herpes
• You are seeking genital herpes suppression/prevention treatment or refills
• This is your first genital outbreak
• There is concern for a concurrent bacterial infection
• You have atypical lesions on areas of the body that are not the genital or oral region
• You have lesions near the eye area
• You have neck pain, fever, severe headache, nausea or vomiting
• You have had 3 or more outbreaks within the last 12 months

Commonly prescribed medications: Valacyclovir tablet, Acyclovir tablet, Famciclovir tablet

Acne, anti-wrinkle & dark spots

Required for treatment: Photo of front of face, left side of face and right side of face

• You are interested in topical treatment for mild-moderate facial acne, wrinkles, or dark spots
• You have severe scarring, acne on multiple parts of your body or cystic acne
• You need the following prescriptions: isotretinoin (also known as Accutane, Zenatane, Absorica, Myorisan, Claravis, or Amnesteem), oral antibiotics or spironolactone

Commonly prescribed medications: Tretinoin (for acne & anti-wrinkle), Benzoyl Peroxide (for acne), Topical Clindamycin (for acne), Birth control (for hormonal acne), Hydroquinone (for dark spots)

Typical number of refills if prescribed: 2 refills

Men’s hair loss

• Photo of hairline and scalp
• You have male pattern balding (hair loss around your hairline and on the top of your head)
• You are interested in regrowing your hair or preventing future hair loss
• You have significant hair loss on other parts of your body
• You have pain, itching or burning of the scalp
• You have HIV, a weakened immune system, a rheumatological disorder or autoimmune diseases

Commonly prescribed medications: Propecia (finasteride); we do not prescribe Oral Minoxidil

Typical number of refills if prescribed: 90 day supply, 3 refills

When you need care now, not later

No appointment needed

Most visits start within 15 minutes of your request being submitted.

Extended hours, 7 days a week: 8 am-midnight EST (5 am-9 pm PST)

Currently available in: CA, FL, GA, IL, MI, NV, NC, OH and TX

Low & upfront fees

Transparent pricing before your visit with low-cost services from $33 to $75.

Pay with credit card, debit card, HSA or FSA card. Insurance currently not accepted.

Prepare for your visit

To begin your visit, you’ll need to:

• Upload a government-issued photo ID and your photo to verify your identity
• Answer a few medical questions to determine if this service is a good fit for your needs
• Enable your video camera and microphone access for treatments that require a live video visit
• Use the current version of Chrome, Firefox or Safari for best results when accessing the service

Prescriptions made easy

Frequently Asked Questions

• Start a visit request anytime. Select your treatment area and answer clinical intake interview questions regarding your condition. Some treatment areas require you to provide photos, for example, of the affected area or of a previously filled medication.
• The next available provider licensed in your state will send you a message through your patient portal when they are ready to connect. Doctors and nurse practitioners are available between the hours of 8 am to midnight EST (5 am to 9 pm PST), seven days a week. If you request a visit overnight, a provider will reach out to you as soon as they are available, which may be the following morning.
• To get started, click on a treatment area above to learn more about our visit types, what we treat and typical wait times.

All treatment areas require you to upload a government-issued photo ID, as well as a selfie, to verify your identity. All visits require patients to be age 18 or older. Each treatment area has unique requirements to receive care. Please click on a treatment area above to learn more about its requirements.

To access this service, you must be physically located in one of the following states at the time of the visit: CA, FL, GA, MI, IL, NV, NC, OH or TX. Urgent care is not yet available in MI. Please check back soon to learn where we are growing next—we plan to offer virtual care to patients in additional states in the future.

Visits can be conducted on a mobile device, tablet or desktop computer. We recommend using the most recent version of Chrome, Firefox or Safari to access the service. Microsoft Edge is known to cause issues in video-based visits. Internet Explorer is not supported. For video visits, you will need to enable video camera and microphone access to interact with a clinician. Video visits are conducted on a HIPAA-compliant platform. Click on a treatment area above to learn more.

Patient support can be reached at 866-740-7721 between the hours of 8 am to midnight EST (5 am to 9 pm PST), seven days a week. You may also send a message through the patient portal in your Walgreens Virtual Healthcare account.

Payment & insurance

Walgreens Virtual Healthcare visits are $33 - $75. Click on a treatment area above to see the price of each visit type. Insurance is currently not accepted for virtual care visits; however, you may pay for your visit with your HSA/FSA card. Insurance may be used to purchase your prescription, if applicable. We plan to accept insurance for virtual care visits in the future.

Yes, you can use insurance to pay for most medication. Insurance coverage for prescription drugs varies. Please talk with your insurer or pharmacy directly about any questions regarding your prescription drug coverage. The cost of medication is not included in the cost of your visit. Looking to pay for your medication out of pocket? Find lower prescription prices at Walgreens with our free search tool, Walgreens Rx Savings Finder , powered by RxSense ® .

We accept debit, credit and HSA/FSA cards.

The fee you pay is for a clinical assessment, which may be conducted via a live visit or an offline (asynchronous) review of your clinical records by a Walgreens Virtual Healthcare provider. They will review your clinical situation and use their independent clinical judgment to recommend the most appropriate treatment option for you. This may include prescribing medication, recommending over-the-counter medications or home care strategies and/or recommending that you visit an in-person provider for further evaluation (such as an urgent care center, emergency department, primary care provider or specialist). We cannot offer refunds solely because the provider determines a prescription medication is not the best option for you, cannot be safely prescribed based on the information available, does not prescribe your preferred medication or due to issues related to pharmacy medication pickup.

If you are unable to complete your visit, please let us know right away by logging in to your Walgreens Virtual Healthcare account and sending us a chat message, or by calling us at 866-740-7721, so we can cancel your consultation before a provider reviews your intake. Your credit card will be charged after the provider reviews your intake and shares their recommendations for next steps.

If you have questions about your care, please log in to your Walgreens Virtual Healthcare account and send us a chat message or call us at 866-740-7721.

Our provider team is made up of experienced doctors and nurse practitioners who offer high-quality treatment and care. You will be matched with a doctor or nurse practitioner licensed in the state where you are located at the time of your visit. Service availability varies by state.

Providers & prescriptions

After your visit, if you would like your records sent to your primary care physician, you can use the Walgreens Virtual Care patient portal to send us a message and request that a copy of your records be sent to your primary care physician.

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Make the most of your doctor visit

A visit with your health care provider is a good time to share health concerns and ask questions. Preparing ahead for your appointment can help you get the most from your time together.

When you see your provider, be honest about your symptoms and lifestyle habits . Ask questions to make sure you understand. Taking an active role in your health can help you get the best care possible.

How to Prepare

Before your visit, jot down your questions and concerns. You may want to ask things like:

• Am I due for any screening tests?
• Should I keep taking this medicine?
• What could be causing my symptoms?
• Do I have other treatment options?
• Should I worry about my family medical history?

Also be sure to write down all medicines, vitamins, and supplements you take. Include over-the-counter medicines and herbal supplements as well. Bring this list with you to your appointment.

If you are having symptoms, write down details before the visit.

• Describe your symptoms
• Describe when and where they appear
• Explain how long you have had symptoms and if they have changed

Put the notes in your purse or wallet so that you do not forget to bring them. You can also put the notes in your phone or in an email to your provider. Writing things down makes it easier to remember details at the time of your visit.

If you need support, invite a friend or family member to come with you. They can help you understand and remember what you need to do.

Make sure to have your insurance card with you at the time of your visit. Tell the office if your insurance has changed.

What to Share and ask

What you do and how you feel can affect your health. Here are some things you want to share.

Life changes. These may include:

• Job changes
• Family changes, such as death, divorce, or adoption
• Threat or acts of violence
• Planned trips outside of the country (in case you need shots)
• New activities or sports

Medical history. Go over any past or current health conditions or surgeries. Tell your provider about any family history of disease.

Allergies. Tell your provider about any past or current allergies or any new allergy symptoms.

Medicines and supplements. Share your list at your appointment. Tell your provider if you are having any side effects from your medicines. Ask about special instructions for the medicines you take:

• Are there possible interactions or side effects?
• What is each medicine supposed to do?

Lifestyle habits. Be honest about your habits, your provider will not judge you. Alcohol and drugs can interfere with medicines or cause certain symptoms. Tobacco use puts you at risk for a number of health problems. Your provider needs to know about all of your habits in order to best treat you.

Symptoms. Share your notes about your symptoms. Ask your provider:

• Which tests might help to find the problem?
• What are the benefits and risks of tests and treatment options?
• When should you call your provider if your symptoms do not improve?

Prevention. Ask if there are screening tests or vaccines you should have. Are there any lifestyle changes you should make? What can you expect for results?

Follow-up. Ask your provider when you should schedule more appointments.

After Your Visit

Your provider may want you to:

• See a specialist
• Have a test
• Take a new medicine
• Schedule more visits

For the best results, follow your provider's instructions. Take medicines as directed, and go to any follow-up appointments.

Write down any new questions about your health, medicines, or treatment. Continue to keep a record of any symptoms and all of your medicines.

When to Call the Doctor

You should contact your provider when:

• You have side effects from medicines or treatments
• You have new, unexplained symptoms
• Your symptoms get worse
• You are given new prescriptions from another provider
• You want the results of a test
• You have questions or concerns

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) website. Before your appointment: questions are the answer. www.ahrq.gov/patients-consumers/patient-involvement/ask-your-doctor/questions-before-appointment.html . Reviewed December 2020. Accessed August 8, 2022.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. See a doctor before you travel. wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/see-doctor . Updated January 28, 2022. Accessed August 8, 2022.

National Institute of Health website. Talking to your doctor. www.nih.gov/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/talking-your-doctor . Updated April 25, 2020. Accessed August 8, 2022.

Review Date 8/11/2022

Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

Related MedlinePlus Health Topics

• Talking With Your Doctor

Americans' Primary Care Experiences and Preferences: 2024 Survey Report

U.S. News & World Report surveyed 2,000 U.S. adults about health care issues, including why and how often they go to the doctor, how they choose their doctors and why they choose to (or don't) follow the advice of their doctors.

Americans' Primary Care Experiences

People don’t typically think about their health until they get sick. At that point, they might visit an urgent care center or emergency room rather than seeing a primary care provider , or PCP. However, a trip to the ER for a common ailment is, on average, 12 times more expensive than getting care at a physician’s office, according to an analysis from UnitedHealth Group.

In addition to vast cost savings, having a consistent primary care provider for health ailments and regular screenings can improve a patient's experience and help prevent medical issues from becoming critical emergencies. Most health insurance companies and Medicare plans will cover an annual preventative wellness visit to a PCP.

Health care costs have been on the rise for years; and for many Americans, it’s an obstacle to getting timely and dependable health care. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, one in four American adults say they have skipped or postponed getting medical care because of costs, and 41% of adults report having medical or dental care debt.

To better understand Americans’ health care preferences and attitudes, U.S. News & World Report surveyed 2,000 U.S. adults about a number of health care issues, including why and how often they go to the doctor, how they choose their doctors and why they choose to follow the advice of their doctors – or not.

Here are the top insights from that survey.

How Often Americans Go to the Doctor

Nearly three in four (73%) of respondents had their last annual physical in either 2023 or 2024.

It seems the COVID pandemic has shifted many Americans’ attitudes on wellness and preventative health. Of the respondents who had gone in recently for an annual physical, 29% said that since the COVID pandemic, they now visit their PCP more regularly. And more than two in three (68%) surveyed adults said they plan to have an annual physical this year.

Why Some Americans Won’t Go to the Doctor

While a majority of adults surveyed have recently seen a primary care provider, many people aren’t getting the preventative health screenings and checkups they need. In fact, 12% of the surveyed adults said they were unsure of when they would go in for their next annual physical.

Of those who haven’t had an annual physical recently, people had different reasons for not visiting a doctor or other health care provider:

• 32% said they can’t fit an appointment into their schedule or keep forgetting to make an appointment. 
• 25% said they don’t like going to the doctor. 
• 12% said they just haven’t found a PCP they like. 
• 10% said they have felt shamed or judged by doctors in the past. 
• 10% said they’re afraid of getting sick from others during a PCP visit.

Scheduling issues and poor experiences can be difficult obstacles to overcome. The relationship with a primary care physician is an important one, and some patients might be seeing a PCP who simply isn’t a good fit for them.

Finding the right primary care provider is the first step a patient can take. And it’s easier than ever to find a doctor by using U.S. News & World Report’s doctor finder tool , which allows patients to search for a doctor by specialty and areas of expertise, location, insurance accepted and many more details to ensure patients choose a doctor that will be a good fit for them. The doctor finder tool also shows patient ratings of individual doctors.

How Americans Choose Their Primary Care Providers

Establishing care with a PCP seems to make people more likely to have regular visits: 81% of people who had a recent annual physical visited a PCP that they’d seen previously. Seeing the same PCP year after year and creating that continuity of care (vs. a one-off urgent care visit) can improve the quality of care a patient receives because that PCP will be more familiar with them and their medical history.

How people find their PCPs varies. About one quarter (24%) found their PCP through their insurance provider’s directory of providers that are in-network.

Types of Doctors

Adults in the U.S. can choose to see different types of doctors :

• Family medicine specialists treat people from childhood through adulthood.
• Internal medicine doctors , or internists, only treat adults. 
• Children may see pediatricians through the age of 18 to 21, depending on the practice.
• Older adults may choose to see a geriatrician .
• Doctors for women, including OB/GYNs, provide important additional preventative care, including mammograms and PAP smears.
• Gastroenterologists also provide important preventative screenings, like colonoscopies .
• Some men may see a urologist for conditions such as an enlarged prostrate or prostate cancer.

What to Look For in a Doctor

Aside from the type of doctor, people surveyed considered the following characteristics when choosing a doctor:

• Nearly 30% (28%) of U.S. adults are looking for their doctor to have experience and expertise in a specific area of care, possibly one related to a health condition they have. 
• 24% are looking for providers with positive patient reviews.
• 13% look for a PCP who is the same sex, gender or race as them. 
• 13% look for a PCP who is associated with a highly-rated hospital . 
• Only 9% look for whether the PCP went to a top medical school or residency program. 

COVID precautions

It's been four years since the beginning of the COVID pandemic, and most Americans still value providers who follow COVID-related precautions: 66% are more likely to make an appointment if masks are required, and three quarters of those surveyed (75%) would be more likely to make an appointment if the office offers COVID vaccines and boosters.

What Americans Think Makes a Great Doctor

People may want to consider certain c haracteristics when looking for a doctor that is a good fit for them. For example, they may think about whether the doctor communicates with an open and empathetic dialogue, shows compassion and fosters trust.

The good news is that of the respondents who had their last annual physical in 2023 or 2024, an overwhelming majority feel comfortable with and trust their doctor, at 96% and 95%, respectively.

Additionally, of the 2,000 survey respondents:

• 35% felt heard and understood by their PCP during their last annual physical exam.
• 26% said their PCP eased their nerves during their last annual physical exam. 

Of those who felt heard and understood by their PCP:

• 56% said their PCP asked questions in a nonjudgmental way. 
• 38% reported that their PCP said they would follow up with next steps or answers to their questions . 

Of those who felt that their PCP eased their nerves:

• 50% said their PCP was compassionate.
• 48% said their PCP asked questions in a nonjudgmental way.
• 22% said their PCP clearly explained next steps in their care. 

Online Patient Portals

Respondents were also asked to select up to three choices from a set of options about what features they’d like to be able to use with an online patient portal for their PCP.

The most popular options chosen:

• Ability to review test results within the online portal. More than half (57%) of adults want this option.
• Request medication refills. 47% would prioritize being able to request medication refills.
• Schedule an appointment. 47% of respondents chose this option. 
• Message with their PCP or staff. 42% want the ability to communicate with their PCP via an online portal.

What Americans Do – And Don’t – Want to Know About Their Doctor

When people visit their doctor, they aren’t just looking for answers about their health. There are things that they do - and don’t - want to know about their doctor.

For this question, respondents were able to select up to three options that they’d like to know about their doctor. These were the most common things patients want to know about their doctor:

• Beliefs about alternative medicine. 46% of respondents said they would like to know their provider’s beliefs about alternative medicine.
• Stance on vaccination. 42% of respondents wanted to know their provider’s stance on COVID vaccines, and 22% wanted to know their PCP’s stance on vaccinations for infants and children.
• Opinion on cannabis. 20% of respondents said they would like to know their PCP’s opinion on cannabis. 
• Perspective on ethnic disparities in healthcare. 20% of respondents said they’d like to know more about their PCP’s perspective on ethnic disparities in healthcare. 

What patients are less interested in knowing about their doctor:

• Stance on abortion. Only 13% of U.S. adults surveyed want to know their PCP’s stance on abortion.
• Political affiliation. Additionally, most respondents (73%) said they would prefer not to know their PCP’s political affiliation. 

When Americans Don’t Follow Their Doctor’s Advice – and Why

When Americans visit their PCP, they generally follow the advice that the PCP gives them. Four in five (81%) say they usually or always follow their PCP’s health advice.

When people don’t follow their PCP’s advice, they say it’s because:

• The advice is difficult to implement in daily life (43% of the time).
• They cannot afford what their PCP recommends (34% of the time). 

While treatments are often covered by a person’s medical insurance, doctors may sometimes recommend things like vitamins and supplements, over-the-counter medications , ongoing physical therapy or new medical equipment that insurers don’t always cover.

Bottom Line

PCPs can be a valuable part of a person’s medical journey – both to prevent health emergencies as well as to effectively manage ongoing health conditions. These health professionals can see and treat a person throughout their life, tracking medical issues over the course of years or decades, and puzzling together pieces of medical information to understand a full picture of a patient’s health.

While many Americans have a PCP whom they see regularly and report positive experiences with, there are still millions of people who do not see a PCP on a regular basis for a variety of reasons, from time constraints to trust issues and poor prior experiences.

Methodology

In February of 2024, 2,000 U.S. adults were surveyed about their experiences with primary care. 44% identified as male and 56% identified as female at the time of the survey. After collecting responses through a third-party survey platform, responses were weighted to reflect the current U.S. population by achieving equal distribution with known population characteristics. According to Census.gov , as of July 2023, the population of those 18 years of age and older in the United States was 262,083,034 and thus the margin of error for this survey is 3% at a 95% confidence level.

Citation Guidelines

Should you reference any data from this report elsewhere, please include a source link to https://health.usnews.com/health-care/top-doctors/articles/primary-care-experiences-survey-report .

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Healthcare in Moscow – Personal and Family Medicine

Emergency : 112 or 103

Obstetric & gynecologic : +7 495 620-41-70

About medical services in Moscow

Moscow polyclinic

Emergency medical care is provided free to all foreign nationals in case of life-threatening conditions that require immediate medical treatment. You will be given first aid and emergency surgery when necessary in all public health care facilities. Any further treatment will be free only to people with a Compulsory Medical Insurance, or you will need to pay for medical services. Public health care is provided in federal and local care facilities. These include 1. Urban polyclinics with specialists in different areas that offer general medical care. 2. Ambulatory and hospitals that provide a full range of services, including emergency care. 3. Emergency stations opened 24 hours a day, can be visited in a case of a non-life-threatening injury. It is often hard to find English-speaking staff in state facilities, except the largest city hospitals, so you will need a Russian-speaking interpreter to accompany your visit to a free doctor or hospital. If medical assistance is required, the insurance company should be contacted before visiting a medical facility for treatment, except emergency cases. Make sure that you have enough money to pay any necessary fees that may be charged.

Insurance in Russia

Travelers need to arrange private travel insurance before the journey. You would need the insurance when applying for the Russian visa. If you arrange the insurance outside Russia, it is important to make sure the insurer is licensed in Russia. Only licensed companies may be accepted under Russian law. Holders of a temporary residence permit or permanent residence permit (valid for three and five years respectively) should apply for «Compulsory Medical Policy». It covers state healthcare only. An employer usually deals with this. The issued health card is shown whenever medical attention is required. Compulsory Medical Policyholders can get basic health care, such as emergencies, consultations with doctors, necessary scans and tests free. For more complex healthcare every person (both Russian and foreign nationals) must pay extra, or take out additional medical insurance. Clearly, you will have to be prepared to wait in a queue to see a specialist in a public health care facility (Compulsory Medical Policyholders can set an appointment using EMIAS site or ATM). In case you are a UK citizen, free, limited medical treatment in state hospitals will be provided as a part of a reciprocal agreement between Russia and UK.

Some of the major Russian insurance companies are:

Ingosstrakh , Allianz , Reso , Sogaz , AlfaStrakhovanie . We recommend to avoid  Rosgosstrakh company due to high volume of denials.

Moscow pharmacies

A.v.e pharmacy in Moscow

Pharmacies can be found in many places around the city, many of them work 24 hours a day. Pharmaceutical kiosks operate in almost every big supermarket. However, only few have English-speaking staff, so it is advised that you know the generic (chemical) name of the medicines you think you are going to need. Many medications can be purchased here over the counter that would only be available by prescription in your home country.

Dental care in Moscow

Dentamix clinic in Moscow

Dental care is usually paid separately by both Russian and expatriate patients, and fees are often quite high. Dentists are well trained and educated. In most places, dental care is available 24 hours a day.

Moscow clinics

«OAO Medicina» clinic

It is standard practice for expats to visit private clinics and hospitals for check-ups, routine health care, and dental care, and only use public services in case of an emergency. Insurance companies can usually provide details of clinics and hospitals in the area speak English (or the language required) and would be the best to use. Investigate whether there are any emergency services or numbers, or any requirements to register with them. Providing copies of medical records is also advised.

Moscow hosts some Western medical clinics that can look after all of your family’s health needs. While most Russian state hospitals are not up to Western standards, Russian doctors are very good.

Some of the main Moscow private medical clinics are:

American Medical Center, European Medical Center , Intermed Center American Clinic ,  Medsi , Atlas Medical Center , OAO Medicina .

Several Russian hospitals in Moscow have special arrangements with GlavUPDK (foreign diplomatic corps administration in Moscow) and accept foreigners for checkups and treatments at more moderate prices that the Western medical clinics.

Medical emergency in Moscow

Moscow ambulance vehicle

In a case of a medical emergency, dial 112 and ask for the ambulance service (skoraya pomoshch). Staff on these lines most certainly will speak English, still it is always better to ask a Russian speaker to explain the problem and the exact location.

Ambulances come with a doctor and, depending on the case, immediate first aid treatment may be provided. If necessary, the patient is taken to the nearest emergency room or hospital, or to a private hospital if the holder’s insurance policy requires it.

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Health Inc.

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Oncologists' meetings with drug reps don't help cancer patients live longer

Sydney Lupkin

Drug companies often do one-on-one outreach to doctors. A new study finds these meetings with drug reps lead to more prescriptions for cancer patients, but not longer survival. Chris Hondros/Getty Images hide caption

Drug companies often do one-on-one outreach to doctors. A new study finds these meetings with drug reps lead to more prescriptions for cancer patients, but not longer survival.

Pharmaceutical company reps have been visiting doctors for decades to tell them about the latest drugs. But how does the practice affect patients? A group of economists tried to answer that question.

When drug company reps visit doctors, it usually includes lunch or dinner and a conversation about a new drug. These direct-to-physician marketing interactions are tracked as payments in a public database, and a new study shows the meetings work. That is, doctors prescribe about five percent more oncology drugs following a visit from a pharmaceutical representative, according to the new study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research this month.

But the researchers also found that the practice doesn't make cancer patients live longer.

"It does not seem that this payment induces physicians to switch to drugs with a mortality benefit relative to the drug the patient would have gotten otherwise," says study author Colleen Carey , an assistant professor of economics and public policy at Cornell University.

For their research, she and her colleagues used Medicare claims data and the Open Payments database , which tracks drug company payments to doctors.

While the patients being prescribed these new cancer drugs didn't live longer, Carey also points out that they didn't live shorter lives either. It was about equal.

The pharmaceutical industry trade group, which is known as PhRMA, has a code of conduct for how sales reps should interact with doctors. The code was most recently updated in 2022, says Jocelyn Ulrich, the group's vice president of policy and research .

"We're ensuring that there is a constant attention from the industry and ensuring that these are very meaningful and important interactions and that they're compliant," she explains.

The code says that if drug reps are buying doctors a meal, it must be modest and can't be part of an entertainment or recreational event. The goal should be education.

Ulrich also points out that cancer deaths in the U.S. have declined by 33 percent since the 1990s , and new medicines are a part of that.

Ontario scrapping sick notes to cut down on doctors' paperwork

Province also expanding ai pilot project in bid to ease administrative burden on family doctors.

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Ontario says it will force employers to scrap requirements for sick notes as part of an effort to cut down on paperwork for family physicians.

The change will be part of new legislation tabled by the minister of labour in coming weeks, a government official says. The amendments would eliminate the need for a doctor's note from employees who want to use part or all of their three days of provincially-mandated annual sick leave.

Employers will retain the right to require another form of evidence that an employee is ill, which could include self-attestations or a receipt for over-the-counter medication, the official said.

The change is part of a host of measures announced by Health Minister Sylvia Jones Wednesday intended to help free primary care physicians for more direct patient care.

The province is also expanding a pilot program that will see family doctors use artificial intelligence technology to transcribe and summarize patient visits.

Some 150 primary care clinics will participate in the project, which is being administered and evaluated by OntarioMD, a subsidiary of the Ontario Medical Association (OMA).

Hopes to reduce paperwork

The AI software is called Scribe. It can summarize conversations with patients who consent to its use into electronic medical records, Jones said.

The province says it will also digitize more referral and consultation forms and is working to improve the eForms platform.

"Together these changes put patients before paperwork, allowing clinicians to spend more time with their patients, resulting in a more connected and convenient patient care experience," Jones said.

• Is it time to ditch sick note requirements? Doctors and patients are tired of them
• Want more family doctors in Ontario? Pay them better, say physicians

According to an accompanying news release, research in other jurisdictions suggests AI software can reduce the time doctors spend on after-hours paperwork by up to 50 per cent and allow them to see more patients.

OMA President Dr. Andrew Park said the "burden of unnecessary administration" takes up about 19 hours per week for primary care doctors, preventing them from seeing more patients and achieving a healthy work-life balance.

The OMA estimates roughly four of those total hours are spent on writing sick notes and completing government medical forms.

Checks and balances

Liberal MPP Adil Shamji, who has also worked as an emergency room doctor, told reporters Wednesday that "the devil is in the details and the execution," and AI systems would need to be carefully implemented.

"If this proves to be an avenue that we actually decide to pursue beyond a pilot project, there will need to be a series of checks and balances to make sure that there is accuracy, to make sure that patient confidentiality is preserved," he said.

• Fewer medical school graduates choosing family medicine, Ontario doctors warn

Roughly 2.3 million Ontarians do not have a family doctor, a figure that is expected to double in the coming two to three years, Park said. 

The OMA warned earlier this week that fewer medical students are choosing to pursue family medicine , partly due to the time primary care physicians spend doing unpaid paperwork.

As part of Wednesday's announcement, the OMA said it is also working with the health ministry to streamline and simplify 12 key government medical forms that are burdensome and time-consuming for family doctors.

Kathleen Wynne's Liberal government actually  banned employers from demanding sick notes,  effective Jan. 1, 2018. Then, the Doug Ford government  repealed that ban shortly after taking office , allowing employers to demand a doctor's note for even minor illnesses, as part of its changes to provincial labour law.

With files from The Canadian Press, Lucas Powers and Mike Crawley

Related Stories

Women are less likely to die when treated by female doctors, study suggests

Hospitalized women are less likely to die or be readmitted to the hospital if they are treated by female doctors, a study published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine found. 

In the study of people ages 65 and older, 8.15% of women treated by female physicians died within 30 days, compared with 8.38% of women treated by male physicians. 

Although the difference between the two groups seems small, the researchers say erasing the gap could save 5,000 women’s lives each year. 

The study included nearly 800,000 male and female patients hospitalized from 2016 through 2019. All patients were covered by Medicare. For male hospitalized patients, the gender of the doctor didn’t appear to have an effect on risk of death or hospital readmission.

The data alone doesn’t explain why women fare better when treated by other women. But other studies suggest that women are less likely to experience “miscommunication, misunderstanding and bias” when treated by female doctors, said lead study author Dr. Atsushi Miyawaki, a senior assistant professor of health services research at the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine.

The new research is part of a growing field of study examining why women and minorities tend to receive worse medical care than men and white patients. For example, women and minority patients are up to 30% more likely to be misdiagnosed than white men.

“Our pain and our symptoms are often dismissed,” said Dr. Megan Ranney, dean of the Yale School of Public Health. “It may be that women physicians are more aware of that and are more empathetic.”

Research shows that women are less likely than men to receive intensive care but more likely to report having negative experiences with health care, having their concerns dismissed, and having their heart or pain symptoms ignored, the authors wrote in the new study. Male physicians are also more likely than female doctors to underestimate women’s risk of stroke .

Part of the problem, Miyawaki said, is that medical students get “limited training in women’s health issues.”

Dr. Ronald Wyatt, who is Black, said his 27-year-old daughter recently had trouble getting an accurate diagnosis for her shortness of breath. An emergency room physician told her the problem was caused by asthma. It took two more trips to the emergency room for his daughter to learn that she actually had a blood clot in her lungs, a potentially life-threatening situation.

“There is a tendency for doctors to harbor sexist stereotypes about women, regardless of age, such as the notion that women’s symptoms are more emotional or their pain is less severe or more psychological in origin,” said Wyatt, former chief science and chief medical officer at the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine, a nonprofit research and advocacy group.

Women seem to experience fewer of these problems when treated by other women.

For example, a study published JAMA Surgery in 2021 found that women patients developed fewer complications if their surgeon was female. Another JAMA Surgery study published in 2023 found all patients had fewer complications and shorter hospital stays if they were operated on by female surgeons, who worked more slowly than their male counterparts.

Women primary care doctors also tend to spend more time with their patients , Ranney said. Although that extra attention is great for patients, it also means that women see fewer patients per day and earn less, on average, than male doctors.

Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, said several studies suggest that female doctors follow medical evidence and guidelines , and that their patients have better outcomes. 

“There’s lots of variation between women and men physicians,” said Jha, who was not involved in the new study. Women “tend to be better at communication, listening to patients, speaking openly. Patients report that communication is better. You put these things together, and you can understand why there are small but important differences.”

The authors of the study said it’s also possible that women are more forthcoming about sensitive issues with female physicians, allowing them to make more informed diagnoses.

That doesn’t mean that women should switch doctors, said Dr. Preeti Malani, a professor of medicine at the University of Michigan. For an individual patient, the differences in mortality and readmission rates seen in the new study are tiny.

“It would be a mistake to suggest that people need to find physicians of the same gender or race as themselves,” Jha said. “The bigger issue is that we need to understand why these differences exist.”

Malani said she’s curious about what women doctors are doing to prevent patients from needing to be readmitted soon after discharge. “How much care and thought is going into that discharge plan?” Malani asked. “Is that where women are succeeding? What can we learn about cultural humility and asking the right questions?”

Others aren’t convinced that the new study proves a physician’s gender makes a big difference.

Few hospitalized patients are treated by a single doctor, said Dr. Hardeep Singh, a professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and a patient safety researcher at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center.

Hospital patients are treated by teams of physicians, especially if they need specialist care, in addition to nurses and other professionals, Singh said.

“How often do you see the same doc every day in the hospital?” Singh asked. “The point is that it’s not a one-man or one-woman show. Outcomes are unlikely to depend on one individual, but rather on a clinical team and the local context of care. … One name may appear on your bill, but the care is team-based.”

However, Singh said his research on misdiagnoses shows that doctors in general need to do a better job listening to patients.

Jha said he’d like the health system to learn what women doctors are doing right when they treat other women, then teach all physicians to practice that way.

“We should train everyone to be better at generating trust and being worthy of trust,” Jha said.

Wyatt said the country needs to take several steps to better care for women patients, including “de-biasing training” to teach doctors to overcome stereotypes. The health care system also needs to increase the number of women physicians in leadership, recruit more female doctors and do a better job at retaining them. All physicians also need more understanding of how adverse childhood experiences affect patient health, particularly for women, he said.

“More than once I’ve had white female patients tell me they came to be because I listened and they trusted me,” Wyatt said.

Liz Szabo is an independent health and science journalist. Her work has won multiple national awards. One of her investigations led to a new state law in Virginia.

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Doctors Visit in Waikiki - for Aussies - Hawaii Forum

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Sorry you are going through this.

The we fly from Maui ( where we live) to Oahu for specialist doctors visits and minor operations that are not available on Maui. We end up in Honolulu , or past the airport, near the airport and even in an co-op surgery center owned by doctors in empty converted cannery.

Never been sent to a Waikiki office location.

Sorry you are experience this. It sounds like our medical services are very different from yours.

Practice aloha

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Ask Amy: She’s pushing to go to our prenatal doctor visits AND host a gender reveal party for us

• Published: Apr. 25, 2024, 2:00 p.m.

Amy Dickinson, known as Ask Amy, answers a question about someone pressing to host a gender reveal party for an expectant couple. Canva

• Amy Dickinson

DEAR AMY: My boyfriend and I are in our late-teens and we recently learned that I am pregnant.

We have a lot to deal with but we are doing our best to handle this situation that neither of us really feel ready for. We both have great families and they are supportive.

We saw my boyfriend’s sister last weekend, and she told me that she wants to go with us to our doctor appointment so that when we learn the gender of our child she can then host a “gender reveal” party. (She is married and has a child.)

I know that some parents do this, but I don’t think I want to do it.

Should she come with us to the appointment? Should we let her do this?

DEAR NERVOUS: No – and no.

You and the baby’s father should go to these appointments. If you would like more support at an appointment, you could invite her or another family member, but this invitation should come from you – not the other way around.

Establishing respectful boundaries can be a tough job. But this is the beginning of your life as parents, and you have the right and responsibility to develop good boundaries and good judgment about what you believe is best for you and your child.

(You can email Amy Dickinson at [email protected] or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook .)

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