Appointment Length and Quality

Most participants described virtual appointments as shorter and more rushed than in-person appointments, with some calls limited to around 10 or 15 minutes. The narrow, problem-focused structure of virtual appointments risked missing abnormal test results, emerging concerns, or whole-person context. Patients disliked that virtual appointments often focused narrowly on one problem rather than allowing discussion of broader health issues as in in-person visits. Shorter appointments are associated with inappropriate prescribing, lower satisfaction, and reduced care quality, though they may not be inferior for every patient or situation.