By: Sara Hussey, MBA, CAE – ACMS Executive Director
The Physicians Foundation recently released its 2024 Survey of America’s Current and Future Physicians, highlighting key issues related to physician wellbeing and the impact of healthcare consolidation. Although there are some signs of improvement compared to past years, the overall state of wellbeing remains concerningly low. I encourage our members to review this survey in detail. However, I’m aware that your limited time (a direct contributor to burnout) may make this difficult. So, if you can’t read the full report, here’s a summary of some of the key findings:
- Burnout and Mental Health Crisis:
- Burnout remains critically high across all levels: 58% of physicians, 61% of residents, and 71% of medical students report frequent feelings of burnout. This is a sharp increase from pre-pandemic levels in 2018.
- Mental health concerns are widespread, with more than half of physicians knowing a colleague who has considered or died by suicide. For medical students, that number is an alarming 45%, while 38% of residents also report knowing someone impacted.
- Stigma around seeking mental health support remains a significant barrier, with over 75% of physicians, residents, and medical students acknowledging that it exists within the profession.
- Impact of Healthcare Consolidation:
- Consolidation in healthcare is perceived as negatively affecting job satisfaction and patient care. Seven out of ten physicians, residents, and medical students agree that mergers and acquisitions hinder access to high-quality, cost-efficient care.
- Negative impacts of consolidation include reduced physician autonomy, compromised patient care quality, and increased healthcare costs.
- Proposed Solutions:
- Reducing administrative burdens is identified as one of the top solutions to improve physician wellbeing, with 80% of physicians and 85% of residents supporting this measure.
- Physicians also call for reforms to licensure questions, better access to mental health care, and safeguards to preserve autonomy in a consolidated healthcare landscape.
- Younger generations, especially medical students and residents, are advocating for mental health to become an integral part of healthcare discussions, fostering a more supportive environment for future physicians.
This report underscores the need for systemic changes to address the mental health crisis, reduce administrative burdens, and maintain physician autonomy as consolidation continues to reshape healthcare delivery. For the full report and more details on these issues, you can access the Physicians Foundation report.
ACMS is dedicated to providing valuable resources for Allegheny County physicians and medical residents. The Physician Wellness Program, launched in April 2024, offers a confidential, free, convenient, and neutral resource for those needing additional support. We currently have eight licensed therapists and life coaches available, allowing physicians to book up to four free counseling appointments per year. The booking process is done directly through our website, with no information shared with ACMS staff—everything is managed privately between you and the therapist of your choice. If you, or someone you know, is struggling, we encourage you to utilize this resource this is available ALL physicians and resident physicians in Allegheny County (membership to ACMS is not required).