Survey of America's Physicians: Practice Patterns and Perspectives

Merritt Hawkins Team | September 22, 2017

Based on over 17,263 physicians, Survey Paints a Detailed Portrait of Today’s Doctors


One of the largest physician surveys ever completed in the United States, Survey of America’s Physicians: Practice Patterns and Perspectives paints a portrait of an evolving physician workforce whose practice styles and attitudes are changing. Based on over 17,263 physicians nationwide, this physician survey is conducted by Merritt Hawkins on behalf of The Physicians Foundation, a non-profit organization that seeks to advance the work of practicing physicians and help facilitate the delivery of healthcare to patients.

Data about today’s doctors derived from the survey include:

  •  80% of physicians are overextended or are at capacity, with no time to see additional patients
  •  48% of physicians said their time with patients is always or often limited
  •  Employed physicians see 19% fewer patients than practice owners
  •  46.8% of physicians plan to accelerate their retirement plans
  •  20% of physicians practice in groups of 101 doctors or more, up from 12% in 2012
  •  Only 17% of physicians are in solo practice, down from 25% in 2012
  •  27% of physicians do not see Medicare patients, or limit the number they see 
  •  36% of physicians do not see Medicaid patients, or limit the number they see
  •  Only 6% of physicians said ICD-10 has increased efficiency in their practices

    The biennial survey features over one million data points, and includes comparisons of survey responses by age of the physician, gender, state, specialty and practice status (employed physicians vs. independent)


    The Survey of America’s Physicians offers an unrivaled resource of information on today’s doctors for hospital and medical group executives, physician recruiting professionals, members of the media, policy makers, the public and for physicians themselves.

    About the Author
    Merritt Hawkins Team

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