Medical Careers and Patient Relations: Follow-Up Study. Abstract, ExecutiveSummary and Final Report and Attachments

摘要

Myriad changes inside and outside medicine have occurred as demands for costcontainment, professional accountability, access to services and quality care have escalated. The purpose of this research is to document how physicians have fared since the late 1970's. It presents data from a longitudinal study of internists interviewed at the completion of residency training, then five years later, and now 15 years later in mid-career. The research design was qualitative to provide insight on the little studied world of the practicing physician. Twenty-one of the original 26 physicians were re-interviewed, regarding a retrospective look at training; an examination of current career patterns and trajectory; and a prospective view of their medical and professional future. Most reported increasing competition and decreasing rewards. Many have changed practice settings in response to chnaging conditions. For those in private practice, the work was described as too intense for the financial compensation and decline in public prestige.