Things Physician Should - Elliot Physicians

The days have grown shorter, the nights colder, and the fantastic colors of New Hampshire's fall foliage will soon give way to winter!

Which means it's time to take a look at what lies ahead for physicians.

Soon it will be time to say goodbye to 2017 and hello to a new year. With that in mind, take a look at these five things every physician should know before 2018:

The nation's physician shortage has been well-documented. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, population growth, the increase in the number of aging Americans, and retiring physicians will leave the country 100,000 physicians short by 2030.

While this is certainly alarming news for the nation, it does present an opportunity for physicians in search of new opportunities. Those interested should have no trouble finding hospital and healthcare systems interested in their services.

Bureaucratic tasks, too many hours at work, feeling unappreciated, and the computerization of practice are the top four reasons physicians feel burned out, according to a Medscape survey of more than 14,000 physicians.

The survey found that the percentage of physicians feeling burned out is steadily increasing. Being aware of the signs of burnout, seeking employment with an organization that values work-life balance, and asking for help are key strategies to prevent it.

The healthcare industry is constantly changing. New technology, payment models, leaders, and approaches to care delivery can make it seem like change is the only constant in the industry.

It also proves the old axiom:
The more things change, the more things stay the same.

People still consider medical doctors to be among the most trustworthy professionals in the country, according to a survey conducted by Gallup. This is an important fact to keep in mind as you work through all of the ongoing changes in the industry.

• The average Medicare patient sees seven physicians across four different practices;
• There is still a keen focus on leveraging innovation to transform healthcare delivery into something more efficient;
• In coming years, physicians should expect a movement toward partnerships with community resources as part of care coordination.

With more aging patients, diverse populations, and pressure to improve outcomes at lower costs, physicians working at hospitals that embrace care coordination are likely to experience more success.

This has been a monumental year for physicians in the United States. As first reported by "Modern Healthcare," 2017 marked the first time in U.S. history that less than half of all practicing physicians owned their medical practices.

It seems that physicians are moving en masse toward larger practices—and this trend shows no signs of slowing down.

Compliance costs, new payment models, and the stress of owning and operating a practice have become too much for many physicians to handle.

The good news is that many healthcare systems are searching for talented providers who want to focus on patient care.

If you're interested in joining those who have made the shift to larger practices, connect with Elliot Health System today! You'll find the resources you need to succeed.

Elliot Health System is a 296-bed hospital in Manchester, NH. In 2017, it had 12,831 admissions, making it the busiest community hospital in New Hampshire. Our physicians performed over 111,000 ER and Urgent Care visits, 1,891 deliveries, 8,300 surgical visits, and over 390,000 outpatient visits.