Physicians frustrated, but still satisfied with their careers

According to a new survey, doctors have many reasons to feel frustrated and stressed out, but all in all they remain happy with their careers.

The Great American Physician Survey solicited opinions on a wide range of topics from 1,314 physicians to get a picture of their view of the state of the healthcare industry. The litany of frustrations runs along familiar lines: as FiercePracticeManagement has been reporting, doctors feel more stress about their jobs, have seen decreased revenues in their practices, and harbor concerns about the future of healthcare, particularly when it comes to the Affordable Care Act and the rise of value-based payment methodologies. Despite those issues, Physicians Practice found that more than 80 percent of respondents continue to enjoy being a physician, and 62 percent measured their happiness between seven and nine on a 10-point scale, with 10 being “extremely happy.”

Here are some of the survey’s key findings:

• When asked to nail down their biggest frustrations with being a physician, third-party interference topped the list of responses, followed by a decrease in the ability to practice medicine independently and government overregulation.
• If they were to change their place of work, a third of respondents cited a toxic work culture as the primary reason, with another 28.5 percent seeking better work-life balance. A staggering number of doctors lack adequate time for their personal lives, says psychologist Catherine Hambley, Ph.D.
• Physicians continue to become more open to the idea of fee-based services, with 45 percent willing to consider a concierge practice and 62 percent open to direct primary care.
• Despite the sense that third-party pressures hamper doctor-patient relationships, 92.7 percent of respondents indicated strong relationships with their patients.
• When it comes to patient health, over half the respondents cited some form of higher cost as the greatest barrier, with 40.5 percent citing higher deductibles, coinsurance and copays, and 20.2 percent citing the higher cost of care overall.