Most U.S. physicians are satisfied

(HealthDay News) — Most U.S. physicians are satisfied, with satisfied physicians more likely to report positive trends in medicine, according to a report published by Jackson Healthcare.

Jackson Healthcare conducted their annual national survey of physicians. Seventy-two percent of respondents reported being satisfied or very satisfied, while only 9% were very dissatisfied.

According to the survey, satisfied physicians are more likely to say there has been no change in the amount of time they spend with patients (76%) and that there has been no change in the number of surgical procedures scheduled per day (69%). 

Seventy percent would encourage a young person to become a physician, and 68% feel it is a positive trend that nurse practitioners and physician assistants are taking on more duties traditionally performed by physicians. 

In contrast, most dissatisfied physicians are unlikely to accept new Medicaid patients due to low or declining reimbursements; are not likely to encourage young people to become physicians; are likely to work more than 8 ours per day; and are likely to say that patients are delaying services and procedures.

“It is obvious dissatisfied physicians see the glass half empty, while satisfied physicians see it as half full,” wrote the authors of the report. “And, in our research, there continues to be a correlation between satisfaction and employment versus private practice.”