The physician burnout rate dropped below 50% for the first time in four years, according to a survey by the American Medical Association.
Physician Workforce
Between increased workloads due to staffing shortages, insufficient pay and a growing lack of autonomy in employed settings, unionization has breached a number of health systems and physician communities.
After months of negotiations, physicians and fellows at Bakersfield, Calif.-based Kern Medical Center reached an agreement with hospital management, according to an Aug. 7 news release shared with Becker's.
The last 10 years have seen a notable drop in the share of physicians who are independently employed.
Norfolk, Va.,-based Sentara Health plans to roughly double the amount of residency and fellowship positions offered through the system, according to an Aug. 5 Williamsburg Yorktown Daily report.
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Amid labor shortages, consolidation and increased demand for healthcare services, physician employment is a complex environment.
Sound Physicians will lay off 98 employees in Tucson, Ariz., according to regulatory documents filed with the state July 30.
Washington, D.C. has the highest number of physicians per capita — seven times more than Idaho, the state with the fewest, according to an analysis by financial management website WalletHub.
Improving the practice of medicine for physicians has been a priority for many in the healthcare industry — and efforts are finally beginning to pay off.
Artificial intelligence is being used across the medical industry, from assisting with highly complex procedures to improving diagnostic accuracy. It could also be a powerful tool in the fight against physician burnout.