Recently there have been summaries circulating about a study on the workload of primary care physicians. Primary care physicians are such a crucial part of patient care and the healthcare ecosystem.

In my view, yes, they are super human beings with a vast array of knowledge, compassion, and a devotion to continual learning.

Yet, they are not superhuman! They cannot manifest 26.7 hours in a day.

The study found that “following national recommendation guidelines for preventive, chronic disease and acute care would take a primary care physician 26.7 hours per day to see an average number of patients.” (source)

This is not humanly possible. And yet with the complexity of chronic and acute illnesses and the endless guidelines for good preventative care and wellness, the expectations have become boundless.

I applaud the attention this study is getting as it highlights a situation at the breaking point. There are no easy solutions. …Yet, an imperative to create them.