Home Research Research Library Physician and Practice Characteristics Associated with Family Physician Panel Size Physician and Practice Characteristics Associated with Family Physician Panel Size 2025 Author(s) Bazemore, Andrew W, Morgan, Zachary J, and Grumbach, Kevin Topic(s) Role of Primary Care, Achieving Health System Goals, and What Family Physicians Do Keyword(s) Physician Experience (Burnout / Satisfaction), and Quality Of Care Volume Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine Source Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine Purpose: Understanding primary care panel sizes is crucial as US policy makers and workforce planners wrestle with both primary care shortage and rising clinician burnout. We aimed to investigate physician and practice factors associated with variation in panel size. Methods: We analyzed data from the 2017 to 2023 American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) Family Medicine Continuing Certification Questionnaire. The nationally-representative, mandatory (100% response rate) questionnaire included demographic, practice, and panel size data for family physicians (FPs). Bivariate analyses and generalized linear models with a log-linked γ distribution examined associations between panel size and physician, practice, and area characteristics. Results: 21,770 FP respondents reported estimated panel size averaging 1,933 patients/FP. On adjusted analyses, FPs in independently owned practices reported the largest panel sizes, while those in academic practices and federal clinics had the smallest panel sizes. FPs working in practices of 2 to 5 physicians had larger panel sizes than those in solo or larger group practices. FPs providing obstetric and inpatient care had smaller panel sizes than their counterparts. Working with nurse practitioners or physician assistants was associated with larger panel sizes. A greater proportion of vulnerable patients in a practice was associated with smaller panel sizes. Panel size decreased over time after adjusting for other predictors. Conclusions: Panel sizes among FPs vary significantly based on practice type and size, team composition, and scope of practice. These findings highlight the importance of considering both individual and practice-level factors in workforce planning and policy development to optimize primary care delivery and manage physician workloads effectively. ABFM Research Read all 2024 US Primary Care Workforce Growth: A Decade of Limited Progress, and Projected Needs Through 2040 Go to US Primary Care Workforce Growth: A Decade of Limited Progress, and Projected Needs Through 2040 2020 Meaningful Use And Medical Home Functionality In Primary Care Practice: Study examines the implementation of patient-centered medical home model and the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology in US physician practices. Go to Meaningful Use And Medical Home Functionality In Primary Care Practice: Study examines the implementation of patient-centered medical home model and the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology in US physician practices. 2020 The Dilution of Family Medicine: Waning Numbers of Family Physicians Providing Pediatric Care Go to The Dilution of Family Medicine: Waning Numbers of Family Physicians Providing Pediatric Care 2022 Comprehensiveness-the Need to Resurrect a Sagging Pillar of Primary Care. Go to Comprehensiveness-the Need to Resurrect a Sagging Pillar of Primary Care.
Author(s) Bazemore, Andrew W, Morgan, Zachary J, and Grumbach, Kevin Topic(s) Role of Primary Care, Achieving Health System Goals, and What Family Physicians Do Keyword(s) Physician Experience (Burnout / Satisfaction), and Quality Of Care Volume Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine Source Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine
ABFM Research Read all 2024 US Primary Care Workforce Growth: A Decade of Limited Progress, and Projected Needs Through 2040 Go to US Primary Care Workforce Growth: A Decade of Limited Progress, and Projected Needs Through 2040 2020 Meaningful Use And Medical Home Functionality In Primary Care Practice: Study examines the implementation of patient-centered medical home model and the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology in US physician practices. Go to Meaningful Use And Medical Home Functionality In Primary Care Practice: Study examines the implementation of patient-centered medical home model and the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology in US physician practices. 2020 The Dilution of Family Medicine: Waning Numbers of Family Physicians Providing Pediatric Care Go to The Dilution of Family Medicine: Waning Numbers of Family Physicians Providing Pediatric Care 2022 Comprehensiveness-the Need to Resurrect a Sagging Pillar of Primary Care. Go to Comprehensiveness-the Need to Resurrect a Sagging Pillar of Primary Care.
2024 US Primary Care Workforce Growth: A Decade of Limited Progress, and Projected Needs Through 2040 Go to US Primary Care Workforce Growth: A Decade of Limited Progress, and Projected Needs Through 2040
2020 Meaningful Use And Medical Home Functionality In Primary Care Practice: Study examines the implementation of patient-centered medical home model and the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology in US physician practices. Go to Meaningful Use And Medical Home Functionality In Primary Care Practice: Study examines the implementation of patient-centered medical home model and the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology in US physician practices.
2020 The Dilution of Family Medicine: Waning Numbers of Family Physicians Providing Pediatric Care Go to The Dilution of Family Medicine: Waning Numbers of Family Physicians Providing Pediatric Care
2022 Comprehensiveness-the Need to Resurrect a Sagging Pillar of Primary Care. Go to Comprehensiveness-the Need to Resurrect a Sagging Pillar of Primary Care.
