Primary care physicians worked a median 61.8 hours per week and 2,844 hours per year, exceeding previous estimates. Part-time doctors spent more time per patient than full-time physicians. Workload increased with older, medically complex, and Medicaid-covered patients, as well as higher message volumes. The study linked longer hours to added electronic health record (EHR) and administrative tasks yet found that many primary care needs remain unmet. Results were based on data from 406 physicians in 33 clinics within a single health system.

Source: Annals of Internal Medicine