Young Physicians Seek More Balance Between Work, Life; Avoid Primary Care
The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday examined how "U.S. medicine is in the middle of a cultural revolution, as young physicians intent on balancing work and family challenge the assumptions that a doctor should be available to treat patients around the clock." A recent survey conducted by Merrit Hawkins found 63% of medical residents said that the availability of free time caused them "a significant level of concern as they entered the profession" in 2006, compared with 15% in 2001.
According to the Journal, although "quality-of-life issues have been long-festering for physicians, today's medical field is more accommodating," as the concerns of young physicians are "giving rise to different types of practice options," such as small "membership-based primary care facilities" and "hospital-specific jobs" that allow doctors to have regular schedules. In addition, many young physicians are "eschewing fields such as internal medicine, pediatrics and family medicine, choosing instead specialties that offer both higher pay and more predictable work hours," the Journal reports.
Some critics maintain that young physicians are less committed or focused than their predecessors, but some leaders in the medical profession do not support that position. American Medical Association President Ronald Davis said, "There has been a sea change in how young physicians today balance professional responsibilities and personal needs," adding, "Physicians who manage their own stress and feel happy with their own daily circumstances are probably better physicians" (Goldstein, Wall Street Journal, 4/29).
