Medscape released its Physician Compensation Report 2018 examining a number of compensation-related variables throughout the healthcare industry.
Medscape surveyed 20,329 physicians across 29 specialties for the report.
Here are five statistics on career advancement and job satisfaction measures.
1. Approximately 45 percent of employed female physicians seek promotions, compared to only 40 percent of employed male physicians. The disparity is present because there are possibly more men in leadership positions already, while females are "anxious to catch up," the report said.
2. Medscape asked physicians about the most rewarding part of their jobs. For the third consecutive year, forming relationships with patients took top billing with 27 percent of respondents. Other answers included:
- 24 percent said being very good at what I do/finding answers, diagnoses
- 23 percent said knowing I'm making the world a better place
- 13 percent said making good money at a job I like
- 6 percent said being proud of being a doctor
- 4 percent said teaching
- 2 percent found no part of their job rewarding
3. On the most challenging part of their job:
- 27 percent said there were too many rules and regulations
- 16 percent said the long hours
- 15 percent said dealing with difficult patients
- 13 percent said having to work on an EHR system
- 12 percent said difficulties with fair reimbursement
- 7 percent said worries about getting sued
- 3 percent found no part of their job challenging
4. Despite all the challenges, 77 percent of respondents said they'd choose medicine again if they had the chance.
5. Only 62 percent would choose the same specialty again, however. Notably 98 percent of orthopedists said they'd choose the same specialty again if they had the chance.