2024 Physician Vacation Survey results: Do doctors take enough time off?

MORE EXCLUSIVE PHYSICIAN SURVEY RESULTS (free sign up required)

The best vacation spots, according to physicians

The worst vacations physicians have been on

The physician readers of Medical Economics work hard caring for their patients.

So much that patients sometimes accompany doctors on vacation – at least vicariously, when physicians attend to patient-related tasks while away from the office. A study earlier this year found approximately 70% of doctors performed patient care-related tasks while vacationing, with one-third working 30 minutes or more on a typical vacation day.

To learn more, Medical Economics asked our physician readers about their vacation habits. Here are the results.

It may be difficult to take time off from your practice, especially for physicians in independent practices. But exploring the world can be a physical and mental recharge. Many physicians already know this, so here's a spoiler alert: Stay-cations were not so popular with survey respondents.

Finally, if you need a prescription to get out of the office and head for a city, trail or beach, listen to Dr. Seuss:

“You’re off to Great Places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting,

So … get on your way!”