How Many Patients Does a Primary Care Doctor See in a Day?

The number of patients a primary care doctor sees daily varies significantly depending on the healthcare model, patient panel size, and other factors such as time spent with each patient and the overall efficiency of the practice. 

Two common models – traditional fee-for-service (FFS) healthcare and Direct Primary Care (DPC) – differ greatly in how many patients a doctor can manage each day and the quality of care provided.

How Many Patients Does a Primary Care Doctor See Per Day in the Traditional Healthcare Model?

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the average patient panel size for a primary care physician in a traditional healthcare model is between 2,000 to 2,500 patients. Physicians say they typically see about 1% of their patient panel per day, meaning in a fee-for-service (FFS) model, primary care doctors often see 20 to 25 patients daily. This model incentives volume, as providers are paid based on the number of services or procedures performed.

This study published in the Annals of Family Medicine suggests that managing a panel of 2,500 patients would require more than 21 hours per day to address all patient needs comprehensively, which is obviously unrealistic. Due to time constraints and administrative demands, doctors in this system may spend an average of 15 minutes or less per patient, leading to packed schedules and less time for thorough care.

How Many Patients Does a Primary Care Doctor See in the DPC Model?

In contrast, Direct Care doctors typically manage much smaller patient panels, allowing for more personalized care and increased accessibility. Let’s suppose an established DPC practice sets an average of 600 patients per clinician. Based on the same 1% reference, DPC doctors typically see around 6 patients per day.

The DPC model emphasizes quality over quantity, with physicians spending more time with each patient, typically 30 to 60 minutes or more. The focus is on preventive care, patient education, and building strong patient-physician relationships. Instead of being paid per visit, Direct Care physicians are compensated through a monthly or annual membership fee, removing the pressure to maximize patient volume.

With fewer patients, DPC doctors are often more available for same-day or next-day appointments and can focus on proactive health measures and more in-depth consultations.

Featuring a Primary Care Physician's Experience with Appointments

Dr. Greg Brown, Family Physician and Founder of Gebito Medical, DPC Practice in San Antonio, TX, outlines the disparities in appointments between the traditional healthcare model and the DPC model, and how his career transition led to a better relationships with his patients.

In Summary: Key Differences Between Appointments in Traditional and DPC Models