The current attitude toward employment in the healthcare workforce is not where it used to be. This is especially true for physicians who own their own practice and are employed by a hospital or healthcare facility, according to a 2017 survey released by Physicians Practice. While most respondents say they still like being a physician, many admit that it is much more stressful and less financially lucrative today—due to the recent shift from volume-based to value-based care.

Satisfied and engaged physicians are key to delivering quality care, but how can healthcare organizations keep them happy@f8 Here’s an overview of some of the latest data regarding their attitudes and preferences towards their occupation.

What is the Most Rewarding Part of Being a Physician@f9

There are several reasons why many people find being a doctor rewarding. In this year’s Medscape Physician Compensation Report, 33 percent of physicians cited relationships with and gratitude from patients as the most rewarding aspect of their jobs. This is followed by:

• being good at what they do and doing it well (31%);
• making good money at a job they enjoy (13%);
• knowing that they are making a world a better place (12%); and
• being proud of being a doctor (7%).

What is the Most Challenging Part of Being a Physician@f10

Though being a doctor has its rewards and benefits, the Medscape report states that 28 percent say there’s currently too many rules and regulations. This affects their ability to serve patients effectively without fear of getting sued. Moreover, many state other frustrations, including:

• having to work longer hour for less money (18%);
• dealing with difficult patients (15%);
• having to work with the EHR system (12%); and
• difficulties getting fair reimbursement (11%).

What Would Physicians Sacrifice to Work Less@f11

In the Physician Practice survey, when asked what they would be willing to sacrifice in order to work less, over 29 percent state they would take a salary cut for more personal time; and a surprising 64 percent state they would consider going part-time to work less. “Physicians are really struggling with burnout and feeling like practicing medicine isn’t what they thought it to be,” says Stephen Beeson, M.D., Founder and CEO of The Physician Effectiveness Project at PracticingExcellence.com. However, doctors like Beeson are trying to help doctors connect and collaborate—such as sharing what they’ve learned with their colleagues—to provide extraordinary patient care and reconnect to what it’s like to make an impact in their community.

What is the Largest Barrier to Good Healthcare@f12

From the ever-changing nature of healthcare to the uncertain future of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Physician Practice report states that doctors believe government and third-party regulations (41%) represent the largest barrier to good healthcare for their patients, followed by higher deductibles and higher patient cost sharing (25%) and higher cost of care (15%).

However, healthcare regulations and standards are necessary to ensure compliance and to provide safe care to individuals who access the system. Thus, one way physicians can promote good healthcare is to empower patients to take charge of their own health by providing them the resources and support to reduce health disparities and adopt healthy behaviors.

Today, understanding the current landscape of our healthcare system is critical and will help guide us toward better care as well as provide our physicians the resources they need to achieve their goals. What steps have you taken to promote a healthier and engaged physician workforce@f13 Please share in the comments section below!