National Survey of Physicians Attitudes of Direction of Medicine

Raw data - Responses

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1. How do current changes in the medical system affect your desire to practice medicine?

I'm re-energized - 4.6%

Makes me think about quitting - 82.6%             

Unsure/no opinion - 12.8%             

2. How do you assess the overall current path of the medical system in the U.S.?

              Right track - 3.9%             

              Wrong track - 89.8%                           

              Unsure/No opinion 6.3%

3.Is it getting easier or more difficult for you to adhere to a Hippocratic ethic of medicine?

              Easier -1.6%             

              More difficult - 61.0%                

              Same - 33.4%                             

              Unsure - 4.0%                           

4.In general, do you think the patient-physician relationship is improving or declining?

              Improving 3.5%             

              Declining - 8.35%             

              Same              9.7%                            

              Unsure/No opinion 1.5%

5.Do you have more or less autonomy in your practice now than you expected to have when you started?

              More - 2.6%

              Less - 89.4%

              Same - 6.4%

              Unsure/No opinion - 1.6%

6. If you answered LESS to the last question, what are the top 3 reasons:

              Government regulations - 88.1%                           

              Healthcare system contracts - 59.6%

              Insurance & third party contracts 81.0%             

              Fear of lawsuits - 34.6%

              Fear of prosecution, licensure or administrative actions - 24.3%

7.Who’s most to blame for current problems in medicine? (Choose three)

              President - 27.2%

              Congress - 25.8%

              Government involvement in general - 65.2%

              Hospitals - 7.0%

              Health plans/insurance - 49.5%

              Third-party payers - 41.5%

              Lawyers - 41.5%

              Patients - 7.3%

              Doctors/Medical professionals - 12.1%

              Medicare/Medicaid - 15.4%

8. Who is most likely to improve the problems in medicine? (Choose three)             

              President - 15.7%

              Congress - 29.5%

              Government involvement in general - 17.6%

              Hospitals - 15.7%

              Health plans/insurance - 14.7%

              Third-party payers - 8.7%

              Lawyers - 3.7%

              Patients - 63.7%

              Doctors/Medical professionals - 79.5%

              Medicare/Medicaid - 2.1%

9.Will Pay-for-Performance improve quality of care?

              Yes - 9.2%

              No - 64.8%

              Slightly - 12.3%

              Unsure/No opinion - 13.6%

10. Will Pay-for-Performance reduce overall costs?

Yes - 8.1%

No - 69.7%

Slightly - 7.0%

Unsure/No opinion - 15.2%

11. How would quality of care be affected by expanding scope of practice for nurses?

              Greatly improve - 1.8%

              Improve - 13.0%

              No effect - 11.1%

              Worsen - 44.8%

              Greatly worsen - 18.7%

              Unsure/no opinion - 10.6%

12. Are you planning to join an ACO (Accountable Care Organization) in the next 3-5 years?

              Yes, great idea - 2.5%

              Giving consideration - 9.9%

              Only if I am required - 26.3%

              No - 47.9%

              Unsure/no opinion - 13.4%

13. How will you respond to lower Medicare/Medicaid payments?

              Stop taking new Medicaid patients - 48.9%                           

              Stop taking new Medicare patients - 42.0%

              Opt out of Medicare completely - 31.6%

              Stop practicing medicine or retire - 32.9%

              Seek a partnership/affiliation with large health system or group practice - 10.2%

              Seek employed position with hospital or health system - 15.0%

              Restrict services to current Medicare patients - 26.9%

              Increase patient load - 9.6%

              No changes - 8.7%

              Unsure/not applicable - 9.5%

14. I would be willing, or prefer to treat some Medicaid/Medicare-eligible patients for free rather than file a claim.

              Yes - 35.2%

              No - 39.4%                                         

              Maybe - 39.4%

              Unsure/no opinion - 16.8%

15. Do your third-party contracts restrict your ability to post or disclose prices?

              Yes - 28.0%

              Somewhat - 11.9%

              No - 23.1%

              Unsure/no opinion - 37.0%

16. Do you support more price transparency by posting prices at your office?

              Yes - 40.7%                                         

              Probably - 18.1%

              No - 26.6%

              Unsure/no opinion - 14.6%

17. How do electronic health records impact medical privacy & confidentiality?

              Improve - 7.5%

              No effect - 16.0%

              Compromise - 66.6%                           

              No effect - 16.0%                           

              Unsure/No opinion - 10.0%             

18. Are you hesitant to voice your opinions about health care politics, policy or legislation because of reaction from your patients, colleagues or administrators?

              Very hesitant - 10.1%

              Somewhat - 25.8%

              Not at all - 62.2

              Unsure/no opinion - 1.8%

19. Please grade the job medical associations & their leaders have done representing you & your concerns as a physician.

American Medical Association:                

                            A - 2.9%

                            B - 9.2%

                            C - 14.2%

                            D - 16.5%

                            F - 57.3%

              National Specialty Group:                        

                            A - 11.2%

                            B - 22.4%

                            C - 26.9%

                            D - 17.5%

                            F - 57.3%

              State/Local Medical Society

                            A - 11.1%

                            B - 23.3%

                            C - 25.8%

                            D - 16.3%

                            F - 23.5%

              Other (blank question - unedited responses below)

                            B: AOA

                            C: APA

              A: American Osteoopathic Association

                            A - AAPS & CMA

                            A: Onconlogy WVA

                            PA Chiropractic Assn.

                            AAPS - A

                            B: Wisconsin Chiropractic Association

                            B: ASCBS

                            A: pch-hca

                            ACA - B

                            Christian Medical Assn - A; Catholic Medical Assn - A

                            ACA and NCCA

                            NC Chiropractic Assn

                            ASRM - B

                            F: AARP

                            B: Am Psychoanolytic Assoc.

                            AAFP

                            B: AAPA/FAPA Physicians Asst Groups

                            not a member of any

                            B:SERMO

                            AARP

                            American Anti-Aging Regeneration Medical Association - B

                            American Optometric Assn - C

                            A - CO Chiro Assoc.

                            PNHP - A

                            F - PNNP

                            F - ADA

                            A - State Specialty Society

                            B - AAPA/ FAPA

                            C - NC Chiropractic Assn.

                            A - MI Associate of Chiropractors

                            Amer Optometric Assn - F; MO Optometric Assn - F

                            ADA - F; AWFP - F

                            F - AOA

                            B - ADA

                            AAPS=A, AANS=B, NASS=A

                            American Association of Physicians and Surgeons A

                            Chiropratic Association

                            American & Missouri Optometric Associates

                            ACA

                            AAPS

                            ACA B

                            Exception is American Psychoanalytic Association. They r an A

                            American Dental Assn - A

20. Which of the following most accurately reflects your current financial situation?

              In the black - 32.5%

              In the black, but just squeaking by  - 37.3%                           

              Breaking even - 12.3%

              In the red - 10.0%                                                                     

              Dark red & can't see how I can continue like this - 4.5%             

              Unsure/No opinion - 3.4%

21. What do you anticipate for your financial situation in the next 5 years?

              Greatly improve - 2.1%

              Improve - 10.8%

              Worsen - 38.5

              Greatly worsen - 11.9%

              I plan to retire within 5 years - 14.6%

              Unsure/no opinion - 4.1%

22. Will requiring individuals to purchase insurance result in improved access to actual medical care?

              Yes - 11.9%

              Maybe - 12.5%

              Unlikely - 23.3%

              Unsure/no opinion3.4%

23. In general, should private self-pay patients pay the same prices as third-party contracts?

              Same - 42.8%                           

              Lower - 32.4%                           

              Higher - 13.0%                           

              Unsure/no opinion - 11.8%

24. Would you be willing to charge your private self-pay patients less than third-party payers?

              Yes - 46.3%                           

              Maybe - 18.3%

              No - 29.4%

              My group/employer won't allow - 2.2%

              Unsure/no opinion - 4.6%

25. Is medicine becoming too controlled by large corporations or systems at the expense of independent practice?

              Yes - 95.1%                           

              No - 2.4%

              Unsure/no opinion - 2.5%                           

26. What would most improve medicine? (RATE IMPORTANCE 1 TO 5, 1-MOST PRIORITY, 5 –LOW PRIORITY)

1

2

3

4

5

Reduce government regulations & mandates

70.5%

16.8%

4.8%

3.7%

4.2%

Repeal part or all of PPACA

63.1%

16.4%

10.9%

3.1%

6.5%

More doctor- owned hospitals

16.6%

18.5%

37.3%

13.1%

14.6%

Increase patient-doctor-direct practices

42.9%

35.3%

15.9%

2.1%

3.7%

Reduce/eliminate third-party payments

33.5%

26.2%

23.6%

9.7%

6.9%

Prohibit government rationing of care

47.8%

23.2%

15.7%

5.8%

7.5%

Patients taking more responsibility for health

68.4%

22.1%

5.3%

1.7%

2.5%

Reforms to deliver medical care instead of "insuring" people

38.6%

31.1%

20.6%

4.2%

5.5%

Liability reform

62.0%

23.7%

8.7%

2.0%

2.7%

Stabilize Medicare payments

38.0%

33.8%

20.4%

3.8%

4.1%

Downsize corporate structures

31.4%

26.2%

29.2%

8.1%

5.2%

Stronger physician leadership

58.6%

26.9%

9.0%

3.1%

2.4%

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