We recently released a report of how
physicians' jobs have been affected by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The survey found
one-third of physicians had contemplated leaving medicine because of the ACA. That number is even higher among private practice physicians, 45 percent of whom say they're more likely to quit.
The group with the strongest opinions about the ACA were private practice physicians.
- 85 percent of them spend less than 30-minutes with patients
- 39 percent are not satisfied with spending that amount of time
- 45 percent are spending less time with patients since the passage of the ACA
The ACA is least favorable among private practice physicians.
- 20 percent of private practice physicians view the ACA favorably
- 26 percent of group practice physicians view the ACA favorably
- 35 percent of hospital-based physicians view the ACA favorably
Private practice physicians also spend more time filling out paperwork than physicians in other practice settings.
- 26 percent spend more than an hour each day on paperwork
- 55 percent spending more than 30 minutes each day on paperwork
- 54 percent feel they spend less time with their patients today compared to when they started working in medicine
Private practice physicians also have less free time outside of work and have seen their salaries drop.
- 70 percent feel they have less free time than when they started their careers.
- 67 percent feel overworked.
- 52 percent feel that the quality of care since passage of the ACA has decreased and 53 percent have seen their salaries decrease.
A
survey of private practitioners performed by
Accenture found a growing number of U.S. doctors are leaving private practice for hospital employment and only one-in-three will remain independent by the end of 2016. It also found the number of independent physicians has declined over the last several years, from 57 percent in 2000 to 49 percent in 2005. Accenture predicts that next year (2016) this number will drop further, to 33 percent.
View the full survey report. 
We recently released a report of how physicians' jobs have been affected by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The survey found one-third of physicians had contemplated leaving medicine because of the ACA. That number is even higher among private practice physicians, 45 percent of whom say they're more likely to quit.