Third-Party Interference Bringing Physicians Down

NORWALK, Conn., Oct. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Physicians are not happy with the direction healthcare is headed, according to the seventh annual Great American Physician Survey from Physicians Practice, an award-winning practice management publication. Physicians Practice released the complete results of the survey in an exclusive report, along with other pertinent content for physicians and practice owners.

Physicians Practice surveyed more than 1,300 physicians across the United States across all specialties and practice models to find out what is on their minds politically, professionally, and personally. While most still like being a physician, they don't feel good about the direction healthcare is headed.

When physicians were asked if they agreed with the following statement, "I am happy with the direction healthcare is headed," the average response was 1.86 (on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is strongly disagree and 5 is strongly agree). Most say the profession is more stressful and less financial lucrative than it has been in years past. The biggest frustrations with being a physician today, according to respondents, were third-party interference (37 percent); declining ability to practice independently (13.3 percent); and government regulations (11.6 percent).

A major of physicians say they wished they worked fewer hours per week (54.2 percent), but can't afford to reduce their schedule (52.9 percent). More than 70 percent of physicians say they don't have as much time in their personal life as they should.

"Physicians feel a lot anger toward the insurance industry, government regulations, and other places where they feel their ability to practice is being impeded by non-physician bureaucrats," says Gabriel Perna, managing editor of Physicians Practice.

The survey also highlighted how physicians feel about the Affordable Care Act. Forty-seven percent say it has done a disservice to Americans; 45.5 percent say it's been mostly good, but not all good; and 7.5 percent say it's been great. Nearly 40 percent of respondents say the ACA has made collecting deductibles more challenging. On value-based care, 54.1 percent say it's a good idea in theory, but much harder to execute in practice.

Respondents also weighed in on the 2016 Presidential Election. Like many others, physicians were split on who they were likely to vote for in November (the survey was conducted before the results of the primaries were finalized) — 45.6 percent said the Republican candidate; 40.2 percent said the Democratic candidate, and 14.1 percent said they wouldn't vote at all.

Despite all of this, an overwhelming majority of physicians still like being a physician and feel they have a strong relationship with their patients (92.7 percent). Nearly half said if they could go back and pick another career path, they'd do everything nearly the same as they did the first time. "There was a reason for optimism in this survey. Physicians may be down, but they're not out," says Perna.

The report also offers three feature length articles. How physicians should deal with the high cost of care and rising patient deductibles; why is there so much frustration surrounding the ACA and health reform in general; and the rise in physician acceptance of direct primary-care practice models. Plus, we look at how physicians can improve their work-life balance.

SOURCE Physicians Practice