Across the country physicians are disengaging. The loss of cohesiveness and lack of community among physicians are eroding their commitment to organizations, to one another, and to the medical community as a whole. It has been building to this point for years. Managed care has taken much of the joy out of practicing medicine. Insurance companies have made getting paid much harder and the paperwork required leaves physicians less time to see patients. In addition, new procedures add intricacies to patient evaluation and treatment, further limiting the number of patients a physician can see.

 

The autonomy and physician/patient relationship have taken the pride out of the practice of medicine. We have started seeing the result in fewer people choosing careers in medicine thus the inability to meet the rise in demand and need. And more physicians are leaving the profession earlier and in many options seeking other choices of careers.

 

Healthcare systems across the country are looking for quick fixes (and not by their own choice) such as employment, joint venture opportunities, gain sharing, and payment for call. This author is not critical of any of these fixes, which are being used by healthcare systems.

 

Over the past two years, 1,500 physicians were surveyed about what they were seeking from their careers. These were the three things physicians said they were looking for; (1) Meaningful work that makes a difference, (2) A sense of community, and (3) Affirmation of their value in the form of regular, reliable, positive feedback. (Futurescan 2009)

 

It almost seems too simple, or as Einstein said, "We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." 

 

Hospital and physician leaders should implement a strategy for building support on how to prepare now and for the future of our growing and aging population here in the Greater Memphis Area. Someday, hopefully it could be seen as a national model. 

 

If you don't have a good grasp on how people feel and think, you might as well drop out of the game, because it is a game. The author isn't implying it's all gloom and doom. In fact I am optimistic that brighter and younger minds will prevail in building an enduring intervention, because they will not have been tainted or influenced with the thinking that created most of the problems to begin with. Change is accomplished step by step, with time and intent, and it begins with a group of trusted colleagues.