Commentary

Mammas, don't let your babies grow up to be doctors


 

When country singer Ed Bruce released "Mammas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys" in 1975, he suggested that they should consider becoming doctors instead, but if a new national survey of doctors is to be believed, that’s not such a good career move either.

The survey, conducted by the Georgia-based staffing company Jackson Healthcare, found that 59% of physicians would be unlikely to encourage a young person to become a doctor. The findings are based on the responses of 3,456 physicians who completed e-mailed surveys between March 7 and April 1, 2013.

Mary Ellen Schneider/IMNG Medical Media

A new survey found 59% of physicians would be unlikely to encourage a young person to become a doctor.

Their dissatisfaction with medical practice is reflected in the career satisfaction numbers in the survey. Only 20% of physicians said that they were very satisfied in their work, while 39% were somewhat satisfied and 42% were somewhat or very dissatisfied.

The satisfied ones tended to be those employed by a hospital or working at a physician-owned practice where they had no ownership stake, according to the survey.

Satisfied doctors reported that they worked 11 hours a day or less and were supported by nurse practitioners or physician assistants.

In contrast, dissatisfied doctors tended to own their practices, work as locum tenens physicians, or work for a hospital-owned practice. They also worked longer hours and had few physician extenders.

Maybe the next generation will take Ed Bruce’s other suggested career path and become lawyers.

mschneider@frontlinemedcom.com

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