The PMD Critical List: What Do Physicians Worry About?

A new survey shows the key frustrations of American physicians. The top answers… probably won’t surprise you. That story tops this week’s PMD Critical List. Also on the list: A look at physician compensation by specialty and a report on the exodus of physicians from Ireland.

• What Do Physicians Worry About? (AAFP)

A new Commonwealth Fund/Kaiser Family Foundation survey shows that key sources of headaches for the nation’s primary care physicians are insurance companies and new performance measurements. "Once in a room with a patient” complaints usually end.

• 2015 Physician Compensation by Specialty (Becker’s Hospital Review)

The new Physician Compensation and Productivity Survey from Sullivan, Cotter and Associates finds that primary care physicians (up 3.4% from 2011-2015) are experiencing bigger increases in total cash compensation than their specialist peers (up 2.4% from 2011-2015).

• Physician Aid-in-Dying Coming to California? (Los Angeles Times)

The California state legislature has sent an aid-in-dying bill to Gov. Jerry Brown. If approved it “would allow physicians to prescribe life-ending drugs to those diagnosed as having less than six months to live.”

• 15 Things to Know About Physician Shortages (Becker’s Hospital Review)

Even as the demand for physicians rapidly increases, our nation could well will have fewer practicing physicians in the next decade. It’s expected that by 2025, the US will face a shortage of between 46,000 to 90,000 doctors.

• Why is Ireland Losing Doctors? (Irish Times)

A study found that young Irish doctors are leaving not only for financial reasons, but because of poor working conditions, training, and career opportunities. Many have “rediscovered the joy” of practicing their profession in Australia, the UK, and US.

• EHR Software Written Without Doctors' Input (Scientific American)

The reason why many doctors find electronic health records difficult to use might be that the software wasn't properly tested. A new study finds that many certified EHR products did not actually conduct user testing, or did so without clinical testers.

• Like Having a Doctor on Speed Dial (Sacramento Bee)

A report about concierge medicine which “has been around for about 20 years, but is gaining more traction in recent years among both physicians and patients.” This type of medical practice has “moved beyond being affordable only for the rich.”

• What Physicians Think About Dr. Google (Time)

With most Americans admitting to going online to self-diagnose, Google has announced that it will be rolling out health information on about 900 conditions in the coming weeks. In this report six prominent physicians offer their opinions on the initiative.

• 11 Winning Negotiation Tactics from Donald Trump (Inc.)

His unorthodox presidential candidacy has captured the attention of the nation. No one knows if the billionaire businessman can capture the White House, but doctors might learn some success secrets from his 1987 bestseller, The Art of the Deal.