Given changes to healthcare, many physicians are unwilling to recommend the medical profession to their children and other family members, according to a report from The Doctors Co., a physician-owned medical malpractice insurer. The report is based on a survey of more than 3,400 U.S. physicians, conducted between December and April. Respondents include primary care physicians, surgical specialists, inpatient medical specialists and diagnosticians. Four findings: 1. Seventy percent of respondents said they are unwilling to recommend the medical profession to their children or other family members. Only 26 percent said they were likely to do so. 2. Fifty-four percent of respondents said changes in healthcare, such as pressure of declining reimbursement, increased administrative duties and industry consolidation, are likely to spur them to retire over the next five years. 3. Forty-eight percent of the respondents who said they will likely retire over the next five years are women, and 56 percent are men. Forty-seven percent are ages 51 to 60; 71 percent are 61-70. 4. Many respondents view adoption of EHRs and value-based payment models as obstacles to quality patient care. Fifty-four percent said they believe EHRs have negatively affected the physician-patient relationship, and 61 percent said they believe EHRs negatively affect efficiency and productivity. Additionally, nearly half of respondents (49 percent) said they believe value-based care and reimbursement will negatively affect patient care. Source
