According to Longhurst, primary care physicians have seen a three- to four-fold increase in patient messages since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Longhurst, primary care physicians have seen a three- to four-fold increase in patient messages since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Often, they are answering messages during what he refers to as “pajama time” — the evening hours at home that otherwise would be spent with family or friends. He sees this inbox overload as a major contributor to physician burnout.