The Physicians Foundation has issued data showing “that the state of wellbeing remains critically low for physicians, with healthcare consolidation exacerbating the issue.”
Some of the key findings from the report include that “six in 10 physicians and residents, and seven in 10 medical students reported often experiencing burnout.” Plus, “more than half of physicians know of a physician who has ever considered, attempted or died by suicide.”
Further, “seven in 10 physicians and medical students, and at least six in 10 residents agree that consolidation is having a negative impact on patient access to high-quality, cost-efficient care.” Some of the negative impacts of mergers and acquisitions, according to physicians, include “job satisfaction, quality of patient care, independent medical judgment, and patient healthcare costs.” Some safeguards for consolidation identified by physicians, residents, and medical students include “preserving physician autonomy, maintaining patient standards, increasing transparency and disclosure, and assessing long-term impact.”
There is hope that a generational shift will make more physicians in the future more likely to ask for mental health support. While “residents and medical students are more likely to personally know a peer impacted by suicide, they are also more likely to have had a conversation about seeking mental health support. Additionally, 60% of students agree that wellbeing is a topic of conversation in their classes.”
