A recent survey by the Physicians Foundation shows that nearly half of the 1,000 physicians surveyed have made or considered significant career changes due to well-being concerns over the past year. Despite a slight decrease in physician burnout levels since the peak during the pandemic, the mental strain remains severe, with 55% of respondents reporting debilitating stress and the same percentage experiencing regular burnout symptoms.
Read More
The survey highlights that these problems are more acute among employed physicians, who work for hospitals and health systems, compared to their independent counterparts. Physicians across different practice structures attribute their distress to factors such as heavy workloads, staffing shortages, inadequate patient interaction time, and administrative burdens. However, emotional distress sources vary considerably based on practice structure, gender, age, race, and geography.
Younger physicians under 45 report higher levels of distress compared to older colleagues. Additionally, primary care physicians tend to cite administrative burdens as a significant concern more frequently than specialists. Female physicians also report higher rates of burnout than their male counterparts.
The survey results indicate that employed physicians are particularly impacted by excessive workloads and strict organizational policies, leading to feelings of anxiety and hopelessness. Many of these physicians have limited say in determining their daily patient loads. This reflects ongoing trends associated with corporate ownership in healthcare, where the proportion of physicians employed by hospitals and health networks has surged to over 80% in the past year, compared to 25% in 2012.
Dr. Gary Price, president of the Physicians Foundation, pointed out that corporate control exacerbates existing challenges for physician wellness, particularly regarding physician input in performance metrics, which often contribute to more stress and limited patient interaction.
The survey also revealed that nearly 40% of respondents have chosen to decline additional responsibilities or leadership roles due to concerns about their well-being. Many are considering reducing clinical hours or retiring earlier than planned, particularly employed and younger physicians.
Organizations such as the American Medical Association have expressed concerns about how corporate involvement in healthcare could negatively impact patient-provider relationships and quality of care. Meanwhile, hospital lobbies like the American Hospital Association argue that the trend toward corporate employment aligns with physicians seeking the support and stability that larger organizations can offer.
In response to these issues, lawmakers have attempted to introduce measures to ease restrictions on the establishment of physician-owned hospitals, although proposed legislation has yet to move forward.