Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Personal Doctor or Health Care Provider
Summary Indicator Report Data View Options
Personal Doctor or Health Care Provider by County, New Jersey, 2018-2021
Why Is This Important?
As each new health care need arises, an individual's first point of contact with the health care system is typically his or her personal doctor. In most cases a personal doctor can effectively and efficiently manage a patient's medical care because they understand that person's medical history and social background. Having a regular source of health care is also an indicator of overall access to care.
Definition
Percentage of adults who reported having one or more persons they think of as their personal doctor or health care provider.
Data Sources
- Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, Center for Health Statistics, New Jersey Department of Health
(http://www.nj.gov/health/chs/njbrfs/) - Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(https://www.cdc.gov/brfss/index.html)
How the Measure is Calculated
| Numerator: | Number of adults who reported having at least one person they think of as their personal doctor or health care provider. |
| Denominator: | Total number of adults interviewed during the same survey period. |
How Are We Doing?
In 2021, 84.7% (crude rate) of New Jerseyans reported having at least one person they think of as their personal doctor or healthcare provider. Lack of a primary care provider was more common among young adults, especially males aged 18 to 34 (only 64% reported having a personal doctor in 2021).