The Last Doctor

Your last good doctor appointment may already be behind you.

The eight-minute visit. The portal message that takes three days for a reply. The referral that requires a prior authorization that requires another referral. The doctor who looks exhausted, types more than listens, and disappears into the EHR while you're still talking. This isn't an off day. It's the new normal.

The Last Doctor is a clear-eyed, deeply reported investigation into the slow-motion collapse of American primary care - and what it means for the millions of patients still trying to get well in a system that's running on fumes.

Inside, you'll discover:

• Why 44% of physicians report burnout - and how it's quietly degrading the care you receive
• How billing codes, prior auths, and EHRs ate the doctor-patient relationship
• The truth about AI tools, scribes, and decision support already shaping your diagnosis
• Why shorter visits aren't a glitch - they're the business model
• How private equity and consolidation reshaped the exam room
• What's happening in rural and underserved communities first
• Practical scripts and strategies for patients: how to get the most from a 10-minute visit
• Policy levers, international comparisons, and the realistic path forward

For patients tired of feeling unheard. For families navigating chronic illness. For clinicians watching their profession transform under their feet. For anyone who suspects something has fundamentally changed - and wants to understand what.

The doctor will see you now. Briefly. The rest of the room is already automated.