Limits on physician access for reps continue to tighten

The latest compilation of the regularly updated Office-Based Physician database of Irvine, CA-based SK&A indicates that 38.5% of U.S. physicians now require appointments to see them, up from 31.4% in the first half of 2008. The percentage of physicians who have banned sales-rep access altogether now stands at 23.6%, up 1.3% from the previous period. At hospital-owned medical practices, 31.2% have a “no-see” policy, and 44.6% require appointments. Access to physicians varies by region, with physicians practicing in the Southern U.S. being the most accessible and the Western U.S. being the least.

SK&A performs a telephone-based survey of practices and healthcare practitioners continuously, and compiles the data semiannually, as part of its database services for life sciences marketers, and custom reports.