Majority of primary care physicians “disappointed” with net income

Almost 60 percent of primary care physicians are “disappointed” with their practices’ net income and only 39.5 percent would choose to stay in primary care if they could complete their medical education and training again, according to a physician satisfaction survey conducted by Merritt Hawkins & Associates physician search and consulting firm on behalf of Physicians Practice practice management journal.

The survey also reports that more than half, 53.6 percent, describe themselves as “second-class citizens” in the medical hierarchy. Nearly 80 percent of family physicians predict a severe shortage of primary care physicians in 5-to-10 years due to poor reimbursement and other factors. A strong majority of physician respondents—90.9 percent—believes the U.S. health system needs major reform.

Despite some gloomy statistics, 61.3 percent of primary care physicians report they are somewhat or very satisfied with their career, and almost half say, “I am as busy as I want,” as opposed to “too busy” or “not busy enough.” Only 13.8 percent fear that primary care practice will eventually disappear in the United States and 65 percent predict the job market will be the same or more robust in five years for primary care physicians.

The 2007 Survey of Primary Care Physicians polled 10,000 primary care physicians—4,000 family physicians, 4,000 general internal medicine physicians and 2,000 pediatricians—on career opportunities, financial goals and practice projections, receiving a 3.5-percent response rate. Eighty-five percent of respondents said they had been in medical practice for six years or more. Family physicians responded at the highest rate of the three specialties, at 44.1 percent.

Access the full survey results here.