Forty-two Percent of Physicians Unhappy with Job

ATLANTA, June 11, 2013 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- In its latest survey of the nation's physicians, Jackson Healthcare found that 42 percent of practicing physicians are dissatisfied in their job. Some are considering leaving medicine altogether, while others are considering early retirement.

Physicians cite decreasing autonomy (46 percent), low reimbursement (35 percent) and administrative hassles (23 percent) as the key drivers of their dissatisfaction. Female physicians, as well as those younger than 45 years of age, reported higher levels of dissatisfaction.

Fifty-three percent of physicians younger than 45 years of age who have never worked in private practice said they were dissatisfied with their careers compared with only 32 percent of physicians younger than 45 currently working in private practice.

"Physicians are working harder and longer hours for less reimbursement," said Richard L. Jackson, chairman and CEO of Jackson Healthcare. "Plus, they feel like insurers, government and hospitals dictate how they can treat patients."

When asked to gauge the outlook of their medical career in 2013 nearly half (48 percent) said they were cautionary, while 36 percent expressed a generally negative outlook.

Jackson's survey also supported reports that more physicians seek employment over private practice. Respondents reporting hospital employment increased six points between 2012 and 2013 from 20 to 26 percent.

The top three reasons physicians left private practice for employment included costly overhead (45 percent), practicing medicine without administrative hassles (34 percent) and reimbursement cuts (32 percent).

"If we continue to devalue the experience and skills of our physicians, they will become the most expensive data entry clerks in the nation," said Jackson.

Dissatisfied physicians were more likely to work 12 or more hours per day, be in a medical practice at its patient capacity and not utilizing advanced practitioner support.

Other topics covered in Jackson's report include physician preferences for advanced practitioners, Medicare/Medicaid patient access and physician participation in ACOs.

Respondents were self-selected with 3,456 respondents completing the survey between March 7 and April 1, 2013. The error range for this survey at the 95th percent confidence level is +/- 1.7 percent.

To access Jackson Healthcare's full report Filling the Void: 2013 Physician Outlook & Practice Trends, visit: http://www.jacksonhealthcare.com/physiciantrends2013

About Jackson Healthcare 

Jackson Healthcare is the third largest healthcare staffing company in the U.S. and serves more than five million patients in over 1,300 healthcare facilities. The company also provides technology solutions that enable total hospital efficiency. Jackson has earned national media coverage by providing innovative solutions to healthcare problems, in addition to championing local, national and international charitable work. Atlanta Business Chronicle has recognized the company as one of theBest Places to Work for six consecutive years. Visit http://www.JacksonHealthcare.com to learn more.

Media Contact:

Keith Jennings, Jackson Healthcare, 678-690-7942, [email protected]

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SOURCE Jackson Healthcare