It’s Not Just About How Much You’re Paid

Excerpt

Promoting wellness and preventing burnout among physicians is a national priority, particularly in primary care where a burgeoning work force shortage is looming.1 Prominent national physician organizations including the American College of Physicians, The American Medical Association, and the American Academy of Family Physicians are dedicating significant resources to programs to improve physician work life and well-being. Prior research on physician career satisfaction has shown that satisfaction is related to many aspects of physician work place conditions including time pressures, a lack of control over day-to-day decisions affecting patient care, and collegiality.2 Work place satisfaction is strongly associated with burnout and stress, as well as intent to leave and actually leaving practice,3 and some data suggest that physician satisfaction might be associated with patient satisfaction and quality of care.4 …