National doctor shortage acutely felt in Southern Arizona

Dale Sprinkle is 85 and hasn't seen a primary care physician in more than a year. He's crossing his fingers his July appointment doesn't get canceled because he'd like to talk to someone about his worsening spinal stenosis symptoms. Gilda Nelson, 84, has lost seven PCPs over the last 20 years including the latest late last year.

After spending hours on the phone being told doctors weren’t taking new patients, she found one in January. His staff said the soonest she could be seen is August..