Employed and independent physicians face sharply different sources of distress, according to an August 2026 survey from the Physicians Foundation in collaboration with Medscape, with employed physicians reporting higher rates of burnout and independent physicians reporting greater financial pressure.
The 2026 Survey of America’s Physicians surveyed 1,000 U.S. physicians on well-being, autonomy and practice conditions.
Where employed physicians report more distress
Employed physicians reported higher rates of debilitating stress over the past year than independent physicians — 62% compared to 51%. They also reported higher rates of anger, tearfulness or anxiety (62% vs. 54%) and feelings of hopelessness or lack of purpose (35% vs. 27%).
Employed physicians were far more likely to cite organizational policies or productivity pressure as a top driver of distress — 34% compared to 13% of independent physicians, a gap of more than 2.5 times. They also reported higher rates of citing excessive workload or staffing shortages as a top distress driver, 65% compared to 51%.
Where independent physicians report more distress
Independent physicians were more than twice as likely as employed physicians to cite financial pressure — compensation, job stability or practice viability — as a top driver of distress, 37% compared to 16%. They also reported higher rates of citing administrative burden, such as prior authorization, documentation and insurance-related work, as a top distress driver: 49% compared to 39% of employed physicians.
The autonomy gap
Independent physicians reported substantially more control over their work than employed physicians across several measures. Roughly twice as many independent physicians reported having control over the number of patients they see, 49% compared to 23% of employed physicians. Independent physicians also reported more control over the time they spend with patients (51% vs. 31%) and over when and how they take time away from work (55% vs. 40%).
One additional finding
Employed physicians were more likely than independent physicians to know a colleague who sought mental health support in the past year, 34% compared to 24%. The survey doesn’t clarify whether that reflects employed settings normalizing care-seeking more, or simply larger professional networks among employed physicians.
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.
