MDVIP/Ipsos Survey: Doctors 'Feel Your Pain' in an Ailing Healthcare System

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Jan 28, 2025, 08:08 ET

60% of Primary Care Physicians Feel They Need to Earn Trust Back with Patients Post-Pandemic

Nearly 3 in 5 Doctors Are Concerned About Artificial Intelligence (AI)

BOCA RATON, Fla., Jan. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Going to the doctor can be a real pain. The long wait to get an appointment that ends up short and impersonal is not only frustrating patients – but stressing primary care physicians (PCPs), too. A new study from MDVIP and Ipsos sheds light on the ill effects of America's broken healthcare system on PCPs who are on the frontlines of care, with 62% feeling their interactions with patients have become more transactional than relational and 57% saying that they often find themselves writing prescriptions or referring to specialists due to time constraints.

U.S. primary care doctors feel their time is more divided than ever. [Source: MDVIP/Ipsos 2025 Physician Health Survey]

Most primary care physicians feel patients' trust in doctors has been declining since COVID-19. [Source: MDVIP/Ipsos 2025 Physician Health Survey]

Primary care physicians are cautious about AI when it comes to clinical diagnoses. [Source: MDVIP/Ipsos 2025 Physician Health Survey]

Having more time helps doctors and the patients under their care. [Source: MDVIP/Ipsos 2025 Physician Health Survey]

Many primary care physicians have a gloomy outlook on the financial health of their practice and are in the dark when it comes to planning for retirement. [Source: MDVIP/Ipsos 2025 Physician Health Survey]

While artificial intelligence has been touted as a promising technology for improving patient care and reducing physician burnout, 56% of all PCPs surveyed say they're still concerned about AI in their practice. Specifically, 42% don't trust AI at all to help make a medical diagnosis, and 44% don't trust it to prescribe medications or treatments. Doctors are more open to using AI for administrative tasks, such as scribing and dictation, scheduling and electronic patient communications.

"Our latest research demonstrates the shortcomings of today's healthcare system, including how time scarcity and stressful work conditions are depersonalizing the patient experience and forcing doctors to make tradeoffs in their care," said Dr. Andrea Klemes, Chief Medical Officer of MDVIP. "This shared frustration among physicians and patients is prompting them to look toward more innovative healthcare delivery models and emerging technologies that improve the quality of the doctor-patient relationship and drive better outcomes."

Other findings from the MDVIP/Ipsos survey include:

More Trust Issues: Primary care physicians surveyed are acutely aware of the pandemic's impact on trust in healthcare with 74% saying some of their patients seem skeptical of medical advice and 60% feeling that doctors need to restore trust with patients since COVID-19.
Work-Life Out of Balance: 7 in 10 doctors surveyed say work stress is negatively impacting their life, and 44% have seriously contemplated quitting medicine because of it. Nearly 3 in 4 doctors say they'd want to work with less stress even if it means making less money (72%).
Practice Outlook, Not So Good: Half of all primary care doctors surveyed feel they don't have the business acumen to run a successful practice (49%), and more than 1 in 4 expect their practice's financial health to be poor in 5 years (28%). Another 48% say they don't know what will happen to their practice when they retire.
A Matter of Time: If their work allowed more time, 78% of doctors surveyed say they would spend it getting to the root cause of patient issues, 74% would provide patients with more one-on-one coaching and 77% would focus on patient healthspan and longevity.

"High rates of workplace stress and burnout among primary care physicians is a preventable trend," added Dr. Klemes. "MDVIP's practice model enables doctors to focus on what matters most, from strengthening their relationship with patients and helping influence healthier lifestyle behaviors to taking time for their own self-care."

Read more of the MDVIP Physician Health Survey's findings at https://www.mdvip.com/doctorhealth.

About the MDVIP Physician Health Survey
These are the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted October 9-25, 2024, on behalf of MDVIP. For this survey, a sample of roughly 401 primary care physicians ages 35+ were interviewed online in English in the United States. This survey also has a sample of 172 primary care physicians who work as an owner, partner or associate in a private practice setting, and 229 primary care physicians who do not work in a private practice setting. For more information about Ipsos, please visit https://www.ipsos.com/en-us.

About MDVIP
Founded in 2000, MDVIP leads the market in membership-based healthcare that goes far beyond concierge medicine services with a national network of over 1,300 physicians serving over 400,000 patients. MDVIP-affiliated physicians limit the size of their practices, giving them the time to provide patients with more individualized service and attention, including an annual, comprehensive preventive care program and customized wellness plan. Published research shows that the MDVIP model identifies more patients at risk for cardiovascular disease, delivers more preventive health services and saves the healthcare system hundreds of millions of dollars through reduced hospitalizations and readmissions. MDVIP is ranked one of the 10 Top Executive Wellness Programs by Worth magazine and is recognized as one of Fortune's Best Workplaces in Healthcare. For more information, visit www.mdvip.com. Follow MDVIP on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.

Media Contact:
Nancy Udell
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SOURCE MDVIP