LETTER
Physicians Should Work More, Not Less To the Editor: The first conclusion of Christopher et al,1 that decreased work hours are correlated independently with higher career satisfaction, is not surprising, because the desire to work less and make more appears to be a basic feature of human nature. However, I disagree with their recommendation that one way to address the anticipated shortage of primary care providers is to decrease work hours. This would only exacerbate the problem. First, fewer hours worked would mean less care provided. Second, it has already been shown that the median female primary care physician would have been financially better off had she become a physician assistant.2 Working fewer hours would make a career in medicine a poor investment for many more physicians.3 I suggest the exact opposite. Physicians working more hours would go a long way to alleviate the potential physician shortage. It also would make a career in medicine Funding: None. Conflicts of Interest: None. Authorship: The author is solely responsible for writing this manuscript.
0002-9343/$ -see front matter Ó 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
far more desirable by increasing income. Because overhead is relatively fixed, only a small increase in hours worked and billing would result in a large increase in the profits flowing directly to the bottom line. I believe American medicine would be far better served by encouraging physicians to work hard and place quality patient care rather than leisure and time off at the top of their list of priorities. An increased income and unquestioned dedication to superior patient care are the best ways to improve physicians’ career satisfaction. I also am concerned about what a layman reading this article might conclude regarding what the medical establishment is teaching our younger physicians about dedication and commitment. Robert M. Doroghazi, MD The Physician Investor Newsletter Columbia, Mo
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2014.07.040
References 1. Christopher AS, Smith CS, Tivis R, Wilper AP. Trends in United States physicians hours and career satisfaction. Am J Med. 2014;127(7): 674-680. 2. Chen MK, Chevalier JA. Are women overinvesting in education? Evidence from the medical profession. J Hum Capital. 2012;6(2): 124-149. 3. Doroghazi RM, Alpert JS. A medical education as an investment: financial food for thought. Am J Med. 2014;127(1):7-11.
Physicians Should Work More, Not Less To the Editor: The first conclusion of Christopher et al,1 that decreased work hours are correlated independently with higher career satisfaction, is not surprising, because the desire to work less and make more appears to be a basic feature of human nature. However, I disagree with their recommendation that one way to address the anticipated shortage of primary care providers is to decrease work hours. This would only exacerbate the problem. First, fewer hours worked would mean less care provided. Second, it has already been shown that the median female primary care physician would have been financially better off had she become a physician assistant.2 Working fewer hours would make a career in medicine a poor investment for many more physicians.3 I suggest the exact opposite. Physicians working more hours would go a long way to alleviate the potential physician shortage. It also would make a career in medicine Funding: None. Conflicts of Interest: None. Authorship: The author is solely responsible for writing this manuscript.
0002-9343/$ -see front matter Ó 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
far more desirable by increasing income. Because overhead is relatively fixed, only a small increase in hours worked and billing would result in a large increase in the profits flowing directly to the bottom line. I believe American medicine would be far better served by encouraging physicians to work hard and place quality patient care rather than leisure and time off at the top of their list of priorities. An increased income and unquestioned dedication to superior patient care are the best ways to improve physicians’ career satisfaction. I also am concerned about what a layman reading this article might conclude regarding what the medical establishment is teaching our younger physicians about dedication and commitment. Robert M. Doroghazi, MD The Physician Investor Newsletter Columbia, Mo
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2014.07.040
References 1. Christopher AS, Smith CS, Tivis R, Wilper AP. Trends in United States physicians hours and career satisfaction. Am J Med. 2014;127(7): 674-680. 2. Chen MK, Chevalier JA. Are women overinvesting in education? Evidence from the medical profession. J Hum Capital. 2012;6(2): 124-149. 3. Doroghazi RM, Alpert JS. A medical education as an investment: financial food for thought. Am J Med. 2014;127(1):7-11.
