More than 60% of physicians are not satisfied with how the medical profession deals with work-life balance, according to a new report from Medscape.
“State of the Medical Profession Index Report 2026,” published Aug. 28, surveyed more than 1,000 physicians across 29 specialties to rate their satisfaction with how the profession is dealing with key issues, and their optimism levels for improvement going forward.
Here are 10 findings from the report:
- More than one-quarter of physicians are “not at all satisfied” with the current state of work-life balance, and about one-third are “not optimistic at all” when it comes to progress in the next five years.
- About 75% of physicians said they enjoy treating patients and feel good about the quality of care delivered by the U.S. medical industry.
- About seven in 10 physicians said they were dissatisfied with their ability to manage one-on-one time with patients. Dissatisfaction ran slightly higher among solo practitioners, and practice owners showed the least optimism that the situation would improve.
- Physician workforce shortage projections range from about 13,500 to 86,000 in the coming years. Overall, physicians are skeptical about the industry’s ability to attract enough physician talent.
- More than half of physicians said they were “not at all confident” or only “slightly confident” that more residency positions and medical school spots are on the way. Physicians aged 45 and older were more skeptical than younger physicians about the odds of more medical school spots materializing.
- More than two-thirds of physicians are not satisfied with how the medical profession deals with payers regarding an appropriate balance of power. More than 40% of physicians are “not at all optimistic” about the balance improving in the future.
- Recordkeeping and administrative tasks are the largest pain point for physicians. Documentation and administrative tasks are estimated to take up about 35% of a physician’s working hours weekly.
- Physicians reported low satisfaction and optimism about administrative decisions meant to support them, regardless of whether they own their practice or are employed elsewhere.
- Physicians were more satisfied than not with how the profession is attracting physician assistants and nurse practitioners. Physicians were less satisfied with the profession’s ability to attract aides, assistants and administrative support staff.
- Physicians see AI scribes and similar tools as a convenient way to offload unpopular administrative tasks, but also worry about AI’s expanding role in the business side of medicine, including insurers using it to deny claims and some providers using it to maximize billing.
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