Exhausted and overworked, general practitioners would find it difficult to cope with the increasing workload, so much so that one in three professionals would be burned out. Figures that partly explain new ones, since according to a report from the insurance company The Doctors Companyrevealed by the site Medscape7 in 10 doctors in the United States would not recommend their profession to their children or other family members.
The survey was conducted among 3,400 American physicians from various medical specialties in 49 states and the Federal District of Columbia. It reveals the complex situation of the country. According to its authors, doctors would feel disillusioned by the practice of medicine. More than half of them (54%) plan to retire in the next five years, due to “The pressure exerted by the drop in reimbursements, the increased administrative burden and the consolidation of the sector”. Data to be put into perspective, since the average age of participants was 62 years for men and 55 for women.
Preserving the traditional doctor-patient relationship
However, the survey also shows that healthcare professionals do not hesitate to advocate for the preservation of the doctor-patient relationship and high quality care. More than half (54%) also believe that electronic health records (EHR) – similar to shared medical records that are gradually being implemented in France – have a negative impact on this relationship. They refer to them as “Heavy and distracting when interacting with the patient”.
Finally, the majority of practitioners wish to stay away from the phenomenon of globalization of health. “Health systems that are increasingly acquiring private practice seek greater control over the continuum of care, and some medical groups are merging to create larger centers aimed at increasing efficiency, cost savings and better technology.”, note the authors of the report. And indeed, 75% of independent physicians plan to stay that way, to keep individual and small group practices.
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