Survey Says Docs Dislike Gov’t Intrusion

Each year Physicians Practice conducts a national survey of physicians across all specialties and practice models to find out what is on their minds politically, professionally, and personally. In this, our seventh rendition of the Great American Physician survey, slightly more than 80 percent of the 1,314 respondents told us they like being a physician. Yet because of continuing economic and regulatory pressures, 72 percent found the profession more stressful and less lucrative than in previous years, and a strong majority said they are concerned about the direction that healthcare is headed.When asked about their greatest frustrations with being a physician, third-party interference topped the list at 37 percent. Following that was the declining ability to practice independently (13 percent), government regulations (12 percent), and high stress (10 percent). Lest the picture sound too grim, 48 percent said they felt they had a good work-life balance. And on a scale of overall happiness, 62 percent fell between a nine and a seven (where 10 was extremely happy).
• Forty-six percent of physicians say they are an owner/co-owner/partner of a private practice. 30 percent say they are employed by a hospital or other institution. Twenty-nine percent of respondents said they were a solo physician, 30 percent said they worked with a group of two to five physicians.
• When asked about the largest barrier to patient care, 40.5 percent said higher deductibles and patient cost sharing, while 20 percent said the higher cost of care. 
• When it came to selecting an area of specialization, 76 percent of physicians said they chose a specialty because it was clinically stimulating. Only 2.6 percent said money was the primary consideration. 
• On the Affordable Care Act, 47 percent of respondents say it has done a disservice to physicians; 45.5 percent say it's been mostly good, but not all good; and 7.5 percent say it's been great for all Americans.The above slideshow reveals some of the results to our annual Great American Physician survey. For the complete results, stay tuned for our Great American Physician Report. Click here to download this slideshow.