Recent surveys show millennials are less likely to have family physicians than people from other generations. In Canada, those aged 18–34 are most likely not to have family doctors, while in the U.S., 33% of millennials don’t have family doctors, compared to 15% for people aged 50–64. But both reports point to lack of access as one reason, with a shortage of family doctors forcing young people to find alternatives. That young people tend to see medical care for acute rather than chronic issues also factors into the trend. Other experts believe convenience is another factor. While a mix of urgent care centres, walk-in clinics and healthcare apps seem to offer immediacy that young people are accustomed to, some believe young patients are being pushed out of the family doctor model. A family physician and researcher in primary care reforms at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto pointed out that seeing the same provider is associated with better health outcomes than informational continuity.
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