New Report Shows Physician Well-being Still an Issue

September 19, 2024

The Physicians Foundation issued data on September 17, showing that the state of well-being remains critically low for physicians, with healthcare consolidation exacerbating the issue.  

Data from the 2024 Survey of America’s Current and Future Physicians points to the urgent need to improve physician well-being and focus physicians’ perspectives in today’s rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.  

Key findings from the report include: 

• Six in 10 physicians and residents, and seven in 10 medical students, reported often experiencing burnout 

• More than half of physicians know of a physician who has ever considered, attempted, or died by suicide 

• Medical students (49%) are significantly more likely than residents (33%) and physicians (18%) to have sought medical attention for a mental health problem 

• 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 

• According to physicians, negative impacts of mergers/acquisitions include job satisfaction (50%), quality of patient care (36%), independent medical judgment (35%) and patient healthcare costs (30%) 

• Safeguards for consolidation identified by physicians, residents, and medical students include preserving physician autonomy (90%), maintaining patient standards (87%), increasing transparency and disclosure (86%), and assessing long-term impact (84%) 

The Physicians Foundation, the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation, the National Academy of Medicine, the US Surgeon General and others have all called for systemic change and investments to decrease health worker burnout and improve well-being.  

This May, the MMA Board unanimously approved a set of recommendations from the Physician Well-being Advisory Committee to help physicians and physicians-in-training foster well-being, avoid burnout, and achieve an improved quality of life.  

In addition, in 2023, the MMA launched its SafeHaven program after recognizing a greater need to help physicians struggling with stress, burnout, and the effects of COVID-19.  

SafeHaven, a confidential and independent resource, is designed to help physicians get the help they need to reduce stress and burnout, promote work/life integration, and support their own well-being.   

The Physicians Foundation is a nonprofit seeking to advance the work of practicing physicians and help them facilitate the delivery of high-quality health care to patients. For more information, visit www.physiciansfoundation.org.