Doctor Shortages Are Here—Here’s How to Be Your Own Best Advocate

Healthcare organizations around the U.S. are grappling with an unprecedented challenge—attracting and retaining enough physicians to meet the increasing demand for care. According to the American Association of Medical Colleges, the U.S. could face a shortfall of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036. However, this isn't just a distant problem. Americans nationwide are experiencing difficulties getting timely appointments with doctors, especially for new patient visits. In fact, there are currently 7,488 Health Professional Shortage Areas for Primary Care alone, impacting nearly 76 million people.

Why is this happening? There are many reasons for the shortage, but one thing is clear—it will worsen before it improves. By the end of 2024, the U.S. is anticipated to be short up to 64,000 physicians. For context, consider that some doctors see 20 to 30 patients daily. Multiply that by the number of physicians expected to be missing, and the number of lost appointments is staggering. Now think about the flu, stomach bugs, chest pain, and other health concerns that will go untreated or receive delayed care—sometimes in emergency rooms, where care is more expensive and intense.

A significant factor driving this shortage is burnout. Many physicians are leaving clinical practice due to increasing bureaucracy, physical and emotional stress, and the desire for a better work-life balance. They want more control over their lives—time to attend their children's sports games or get a good night's sleep regularly. According to a McKinsey & Company report , over a third of doctors plan to leave their jobs within the next five years, and not just those approaching retirement.

Yes, medical schools continue to graduate new doctors, but more is needed to keep pace with the rising demand for care. So, what can you, as a patient, do to protect yourself through this potential healthcare tsunami?

Be Prepared and Proactive

While most of this issue is out of your control—you can't change the healthcare system or reduce the bureaucracy—you can ensure you're prepared for every doctor's visit and become your best advocate. An essential part is providing your physician with the necessary information to diagnose your condition accurately and quickly. A detailed and concise explanation of your symptoms can help your doctor narrow potential diagnoses before ordering unnecessary tests or prescribing ineffective medications.

The Power of Your Medical History

In medical school, I was taught that the diagnosis is in the history, not the tests. I was initially skeptical—how could my attending physician possibly think that asking a few questions could replace all of the high-tech MRIs, CAT scans, and blood tests we have today? But he was right. It is crystal clear that by providing your doctor with a thorough history of your symptoms, you can help them zero in on the diagnosis quicker, leading to fewer tests, faster treatment, and better outcomes.

The 8 Key Symptom Descriptors

When describing your symptoms to your doctor, remember these eight key points to make your explanation as helpful as possible. For decades, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services required many doctors to document these details. They were vital for reimbursement purposes, but more importantly, they helped narrow down potential diagnoses efficiently.

1. Context – What were you doing when the symptoms started? For example, if your back pain begins after lifting a heavy sofa, your doctor can bypass an expensive CAT scan to look for something more severe than a simple muscle strain.
2. Character – What does the symptom feel like? Is it sharp, burning, dull, or throbbing? Each of these can suggest different diagnoses. For instance, chest pain that feels like pressure might indicate heart issues, while sharp pain could point to a muscle spasm.
3. Location – Be specific. Instead of saying, "I have pain in my belly," try to describe it more precisely—upper right abdomen, lower left, etc. Each area corresponds to different organs, helping your doctor pinpoint potential causes.
4. Severity – On a scale of 1 to 10, how bad is the symptom? Be honest. If you say it's a 10, but you're reading a magazine, your doctor may not take the pain seriously. For context, a woman giving birth may be experiencing 10/10 pain.
5. Timing – How long does each episode last? Does the pain come and go? If so, how long are the episodes?
6. Associated Signs and Symptoms – What other symptoms occur at the same time? For example, with upper right abdominal pain, do you also have nausea or vomiting?
7. Duration – How long have you had the symptoms overall? Distinguish this from timing. For instance, you might have had abdominal pain for six months, but each episode lasts 15–20 minutes. You endured the pain for six months.
8. Modifying Factors – What makes the symptoms better or worse? If Tylenol helps, your doctor may be less concerned than if nothing eases the pain.

CCL Stadium: A Mnemonic for Your Health

Memorizing these eight points may seem challenging, but it doesn't have to be. If you're a fan of the Cleveland Cavaliers, like I am, you can use the mnemonic CCL Stadium:

• C – Context
• C – Character
• L – Location
• S – Severity
• T – Timing
• A – Associated Signs and Symptoms
• D – Duration
• I and U have nothing to do; they're just placeholders in this mnemonic.
• M – Modifying Factors

Create your own mnemonic that resonates with you, so the next time you're at the doctor's office or emergency room, you can deliver a one-minute "elevator speech" that helps your physician focus on the most likely diagnosis without unnecessary tests or procedures.

Your SMART Goal for the Week:

• Specific – Create a mnemonic that helps you remember these eight bullet points if you aren't a Cleveland Cavs fan (yikes).
• Measurable – Consider a recent symptom you've had and practice applying the eight elements. Time yourself. Can you explain your symptoms in 45–90 seconds?
• Achievable – Keep practicing until your explanation is concise and hits all the key points.
• Relevant – Learning this technique is highly relevant to your health and wallet.
• Time-bound – Complete this exercise within the next 7 days.

For a deeper dive into how to advocate for your health, I invite you to check out my latest book, Patient Empowerment 101: More Than a Book, It's an Adventure, or download it on Kindle.

"Many books are called important because they touch on widespread cultural conversations. How long those books will remain important before the conversation moves on it’s impossible to say. This book, however, will likely remain vital for a long time unless there is a sudden change in the American healthcare system. Even if there is, it’s still a good idea to take your health seriously. Above all else, I think that is what this book can help accomplish."

-San Francisco Book Review

"This reviewer awards five-star ratings with the frequency of Hailey’s Comet. But this book earns Every. Single. Star. And then some. We’re talkin’ Must Read here. It’s an invaluable resource that no patient or future patient should be without!"

-Reedsy Discovery Review

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As a special bonus, the first three readers who visit PatientWorld.net and use the code first3free can get the Patient Empowerment 101 Masterclass on-demand course valued at $99 for free! Let's call today Freebie Friday! Did you miss the freebie? No problem—use the code 75Friday for a 75% discount.

Stay empowered, stay proactive, and take charge of your health!

—Dr. Ann Hester, MD

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About Me -

First of all, I want to thank you for subscribing to the PTR Reset Newsletter. A little about me...I'm a board-certified internal medicine physician, health coach, international speaker, author, syndicated columnist, and online health and wellness course creator - Founder of PatientWorld.net . My passion is empowering people to live healthier, more vibrant lives by making science simple!

Coach Dr. Ann is available for health coaching. You can schedule a complimentary chat here .