New Poll Indicates Employed Physicians Conflicted about Jobs

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) - In 2104, 49 percent of physicians stated that they were unsatisfied with their income, representing the highest income dissatisfaction ratings in several years. The last couple of years have seen a shift, while physicians have seen an increase in income, the satisfaction levels have decreased according to recent surveys. In a recent job satisfaction survey from Medscape , physicians indicated that while most enjoy the pay, the tradeoff is often being left out of key decisions that may impact patients or themselves, and having to follow to a lot of rules and regulations.

Medscape released a survey of over 1,350 physicians asking about not only their income satisfaction, but also details about their employers and their rules, future career plans, and overall pros and cons of their jobs. Based on past results, around every 10 years or so physicians tire of administrative duties and favor employment. In the 2014 Medscape survey, responses indicated that the most rewarding part of their jobs was stable income and letting someone else run the business. According to this newest survey however, the tide has changed and physicians are feeling the confines of working for someone else.

Sixty-five percent of self-employed physicians are happier with their income, 11 percent of employed physicians are very satisfied with what they make, and 45 percent state are just satisfied. Twenty-two percent state they are neutral in how they feel about their income. Fourteen percent stated they were unsatisfied, and 4 percent stated they were extremely unsatisfied.

At least 50 percent of employed physicians polled cited not having to run a small business and having a stable income as what they liked most about their jobs. Having their malpractice paid was listed by 27 percent, work-life balance by 21 percent, and 16 percent stated working with large teams and staff was what they liked most. Only 8 percent stated that spending less time on rules and regulations was what they like most about their jobs.

When asked what they like least their jobs, autonomy and rules topped the list. Forty-eight percent listed autonomy and 34 percent listed more workplace rules as the top things they liked least about their jobs. Less income potential was cited by 33 percent, and mandatory performance targets was listed by 24 percent. While autonomy may have been the top complaints, feelings on autonomy have remained about the same since 2014. Around half at 49 percent stated they were satisfied, and 25 percent indicated they were not satisfied.

While production targets were listed as something physicians liked least about their job, 40 percent were neutral on their view of the fairness of the target and metrics their employer utilized. Thirty-seven percent felt the targets were fair, and 23 percent felt they were not fair.

What is interesting is that the number of physicians with a daily patient quota has dropped since 2014. In 2014, 41 percent of physicians were required to meet a daily patient quota. In 2022, only 24 percent of the physicians polled stated they were held to a daily patient quota metric.

While the daily patient quotas may have dropped, physicians still feel the need to come into work. Thirteen percent stated they often come to work sick, and 48 percent stated that they sometimes come into work sick. In yet another poll by Medscape, 85 percent stated they came to work sick in 2022. In fact even during the pandemic, 70 percent stated they came to work sick one to five times, and 13 percent state they worked six to ten times. Nearly half of the physicians questioned in that poll cited work expectations as their reasoning for doing so.

When asked about work-life balance in this latest poll, 20 percent stated they were not satisfied. However 16 percent stated they were very satisfied, and 35 percent indicated they were satisfied. When asked if they felt their work-life balance was better or worse under employment, 44 percent stated they felt it was better being employed. Thirty-three percent felt it was about the same, and 23 percent indicated it was worse.

On advantage to employment could be the nightly on-call requirements as there is more staff to share the burden. Thirty-two percent of the physicians polled indicated they had no evening on-call requirements, and 37 percent stated the requirement was only 1-5 nights per month. By comparison, 1 in 5 private practice physicians answer call 16 nights or more per month.

While polled physicians may have complained about rules and regulations, more than half at 65 percent of the physicians polled stated they were very comfortable with their workplace culture. By comparison, only 16 percent stated they felt uncomfortable. Additionally, 70 percent stated they collaborate well with co-workers, and only 13 percent stated they were ineffective.

When asked about their input on key decisions, 61 percent stated that they do not have a say in making major decisions. Some of the comments included sentiments that the organization only cared about money, lack of experience, and a lack of acceptance of ideas.

When asked if the administrative rules and decisions made sense for business, for physicians, and for patients, most agreed they did make sense. Seventy-one percent felt the rules made sense for patients. Fifty-five percent felt the rules made sense for providers, and 68 percent felt they made sense for business.

When asked how long they planned to stay an employed physician, almost 7 out of 10 stated they did not see themselves working with a healthcare organization after 10 years. Thirty-eight percent of employed physicians stated they would continue for 1 to 5 years, and 22 percent indicated 6-10 years term. Only 13 percent stated they planned to be employed 20 years or more. Additionally, 69 percent of self-employed physicians did not see themselves working for another decade.

When asked where they would work if they left their job, retirement was the top answer at 28 percent. Twenty-one percent stated they would work at another healthcare organization. Seventeen percent stated they would work with a private practice, and 14 percent stated they would pursue a different career outside of medicine.

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