Paperwork and nonadherence top barriers to patient care

Insurance paperwork and patients who don't follow instructions lead the list of your frustrations, according to a Consumer Reports survey.

The volume and complexity of insurance paperwork are the top barriers to providing optimal care, primary care physicians (PCPs) reported. Second was the financial pressure that forces the majority of PCPs responding to the survey to work more than 50 hours a week.

Nonadherence to advice and treatment recommendations was the top complaint about patients. Of those surveyed, 37% said it affected their ability to provide optimal care "a lot."

Other findings: 37% of physicians said they keep records electronically only, up from 24% in 2007. A patient bringing a friend or relative along on office visits is a good idea, according to 80% of physicians, although only 28% of patients do so.