Physicians Foundation Survey of Young Physicians

June 1, 2012 -  A March 2012  survey of 500 young physicians by the Physicians Foundation,  a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the practice of medicine concluded:

“These physicians are markedly pessimistic regarding the future of the U.Shealthcare system, with the “new healthcare legislation” ranking as a strong #1 reason for the pessimism. Many voice considerable cynicism with (what several call) “government’ involvement.”

You can download the entire survey (25 page PDF) at:

http://www.physiciansfoundation.org/FoundationReportDetails.aspx?id=360

More information  about the Physicians' Foundation can be found at: http://www.physiciansfoundation.org/

Here is an excerpt from the Executive Summary and other sections:

A Overview

The typical younger physician in this survey is 37 years of age and is an employee of a medical group; with the largest single segment being employees of small groups (6 or fewer physicians): 58% are employees of medical groups, and almost half of those (48%) are with the smaller groups. In contrast, 26% are with mid-sized groups (with 7 to 12 physicians), and 26%are with larger groups (13-plus physicians).

These physicians are markedly pessimistic regarding the future of the U.S. healthcare system, with the “new healthcare legislation” ranking as a strongn#1 reason for the pessimism. Many voice considerable cynicism with (what

several call) “government’ involvement.”

Financial-related considerations play a key role in the choice of practice/ arrangement. Most cite “income/cash flow” and “employment security” asfactors influencing their current arrangement. And among the 27% whochanged (or considered changing) their practice/arrangement in the pastyear, the leading reason given related to “financial issues.”

 The vast majority express satisfaction with their current practice /arrangement (with 35% saying they are “highly satisfied,” and another 45%saying they are “somewhat satisfied”); and most expect to stay with the current practice/ arrangement for 8 years or more. Many (39%) aspire to some form of ownership position in the future (as either sole owner or partner).

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EXCERPT FROM PAGE 7

Views regarding the Future of the U.S. Healthcare System

These young physicians exhibit considerable pessimism regarding the future of the U.S. healthcare system:

- When it comes to the Affordable Care Act, 49% believe the impact ontheir practice will be negative, vs. only 23% who believe it will bepositive. Among the three practice-types, the Primary Care physicians exhibited somewhat less pessimism vs. the other two segments: Theywere a bit more likely to be “positive” or “neutral,” a bit less likely to be

negative.

- And well over half (57%) are pessimistic about the future of the U.S.healthcare system (with over 30% saying they’re “highly pessimistic”). In contrast, only 4% are “highly optimistic,” and 18% who are “somewhat optimistic”. When asked (open-ended) reasons for their pessimism, responses covered a wide spectrum of negatives – with the “new healthcare legislation” leading the way. Indeed, as one peruses theresponses to the question, the cynicism voiced by so many – with mostof it directed at “government” – stands out:

Why do you feel pessimistic about the future of the U.S. Healthcare System?

“(Because of) government involvement.”

“(I) Don’t trust government to do the right thing for patients and physicians or to enact lasting improvements.”

“Because the U.S. healthcare system isn’t concerned about the employees or patients. They’re just concerned about the money.”

“Government control is a recipe for disaster. They cannot run a businessand cannot control expenses. How could they do a good job onhealthcare? It is a real joke!”

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