The PMD Critical List: Doctors Deemed 'Bad Drivers'

A study by a British insurer has some unsettling statistics about physicians and traffic accidents. That story tops this week’s PMD Critical List. Also making the list: Why online reviews may not be so bad after all.

• Doctors Are Bad Drivers (ICAS)

“We trust them with our lives and our money but when it comes to driving, it’s best to steer clear of doctors and accountants,” according to research by British auto insurer 1st Central. These two professionals are the most likely to be involved in an auto accident.

• Is My Doctor on Probation? (Becker’s Hospital Review)

“Most patients think it’s too difficult to find out if their physician is one of thousands currently practicing on probation,” a new Consumer Reports survey reveals. The CR report, “What You Don't Know About Your Doctor Could Hurt You,” showed that 82% of Americans want to know if their physician was on probation and why.

• Doctors Shouldn’t Fear Online Reviews (Harvard Business Review)

Internet surveys can create happier and healthier patients and more profits, too. Why does the healthcare industry “persist in fooling ourselves that customer satisfaction doesn’t matter? The patient defines value, and the sooner we come to terms with that, the better.”

• The Unhealthy Tendencies of "Tough Guys" (Fox 4)

“Tough guys are more likely to ignore medical problems or at least put off dealing with them, according to a new Rutgers University study. And while tough guys say they prefer male doctors, they're less likely to be honest with them.” Is it “manly to be honest”?

• Selecting a Bigtime Physician CEO (SunSentinel)

A news report about the finalists for a CEO post at a major Florida health system. One contender Dr. Robert Kelly, the former leader of a NYC hospital, “has a cloud over his head” after leaving a $3 million per year position of New York-Presbyterian Hospital president.

• Physicians Must Practice Self-Care (Forbes)

“Self-care and engaging in activities that will maximize wellness isn’t always easy, especially for busy professional.” In this report an expert offer ups some useful advice for energizing and sustaining healthcare professionals while decreasing emotional exhaustion, stress and potential burnout.

• Physician Burnout Associated with Limiting Practice (Medical Xpress)

Mayo Clinic investigators “found that for every point increase in the seven-point scale measuring emotional exhaustion (a domain of burnout), there was a 40% greater likelihood a physician would cut work hours over the next 24 months … exacerbating the already substantial US physician workforce shortage.”

• Why Patients Lie to Their Physicians (ABC News)

“Mistrust in the doctor-patient relationship is likely a fault, to a degree, of both parties. But the patient has more to lose. To try and understand this phenomenon, the ABC News Medical Unit talked to people about it on the streets of New York City.” Some entertaining and educational answers for docs to consider.

• Average Pro Baseball Salary Rises to $4.4 Million (AP)

Just a game? As the 2016 Major League Baseball season begins this week, the AP reports that the average player’s annual salary is $4.38 million. The minimum annual salary for a player in now $507,000. LA Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw is the highest paid player at $33 million per year.