By LEE BOWMAN , Scripps Howard News Service

When you're sick or hurt, you go to the doctor -- but not necessarily your personal doctor.

A new study published in the journal Health Affairs shows that only 45 percent of more than 350 million U.S. patient visits for a newly arising health complaint such as a cough, fever or stomach pain take place with a primary-care physician each year.

Sick of hearing about the flu? Just wait until spring.

There are signs that H1N1 is going to be with us awhile, with many public-health officials anticipating a third wave of the virus early next year.