I love my job.
As physicians, we have the best job in the world. We make an impact on people’s lives like no other profession, and there’s tremendous satisfaction in working with a strong purpose.
That’s why today’s topic is so close to my heart. More and more, physicians are struggling with increasing restrictions, bureaucracy, and administrative tasks. Sometimes it feels like medicine is changing and there is no one there supporting or looking out for us. The job can feel impossible, like there are ever-increasing pressures stacked against our ability to provide premium service.
Whether you’re just starting out as a resident or have been in medicine for a while, I’m sure you’ve felt this. These challenges are real. Our feeling of purpose and autonomy is slipping away. We’re doing the best we can to provide informed and personalized care for our patients. But maybe your hospital has been bought out or subsidized. In situations like that, the hospital is often focused much more on the business and less on the service.
It can be incredibly disheartening as caregivers, and we get burned out trying to keep a premium level of care while answering all the demands of a changing medical landscape. Growing pressures include the threat of lawsuits, financial vulnerabilities, increased control of administrative bodies, having every one of your decisions scrutinized, and much more.
How can you help yourself retain autonomy and community in medicine while having enough leftover to maintain your ideal personal life? Answering this question is essential for navigating, surviving, and thriving in a changing medical landscape. That’s what we’ll look at today.
The Reality of Modern Medicine
The numbers aren’t great. A whopping 63% of doctors reported feeling some degree of burnout in 2022. Last year in 2023, that figure shrank to 48%, but that’s still almost half of all doctors. That’s way higher than it should be.
When surveyed, 62% of physicians pointed to administrative work as their top source of burnout. But nearly 40% also cited working too many hours, a lack of respect from administrators and colleagues, and inadequate compensation as factors, too. Doctors are losing their autonomy and ability to provide the best care for their patients.
While these numbers are alarming, all hope is not lost. Medicine can be and still be a fulfilling profession. We just need to be ready and willing to 1) find a way to seek support and 2) tweak how we identify our changing roles.
Autonomy through Community Support
Recognize the power of community and peer support to adjust to and navigate all of the changes to the industry. Staying connected and proactive in shaping the future of your profession can also mitigate and possibly reverse the challenging course that the medical field is taking, so take action now! How? Let’s look at a few options.
Create Safe Spaces: Safe spaces are incredibly important. They could include conferences, online communities, groups of like-minded friends, or anywhere physicians can safely share experiences, offer advice, and support each other.
If you’re looking to get connected to safe spaces, you’re in the right place. Here at Passive Income MD, we have plenty of community resources available to you. That includes our Facebook group, any of our many conferences, our Passive Real Estate Academy, and our Leverage and Growth Accelerator Community.
I’ve surrounded myself with a supportive network of physicians, and it’s nice to rely on the wisdom of others who have been there, are a step ahead, or help you see things a little more objectively. These groups create a non-judgment culture where all of your concerns can be conveyed. It’ll be your first step to regaining control.
Self-Advocacy: As you join communities, you’ll realize how much easier it will be to advocate for yourself. That growth mindset will help you take your career to the next level and make a profound impact on the world—whether through practicing medicine, a side hustle, or an entrepreneurial journey.
As physicians, we should be able to advocate for ourselves and each other, politically, financially, and professionally. If nothing else, holding one of the most important jobs in the world gives us that right. And having the means to collectively advocate can lead to meaningful change in the medical landscape.
Strategic Partnerships: Reach out to the physicians you know and build a strong network. Or, join preestablished networks who are inviting new members. But they should be aligned with your goals. Those goals could include staying in medicine full time, becoming an entrepreneur, leveraging multiple streams of passive income, or some combination of those things.
I can’t stress the importance enough: Build and nurture your partnerships with empathy. Your network will become a foundational resource, helping you cope with and combat the challenges of medicine. At the end of the day, we’re still people. And people want to feel fulfilled. Make sure your network’s goals align with your own, and you’ll have partners who will strengthen your why—or your sense of purpose.
Strength in Numbers
Although the changing medical landscape is challenging, there’s strength in numbers. A community of individuals is stronger than any one individual. You are not alone, and together we can create a supportive environment that prioritizes physician well-being and autonomy.
If you’re looking for a place to start, consider the aforementioned Leverage and Growth Accelerator Community. It’s an awesome community filled with amazing opportunities, such as ongoing expert-lead sessions, inspiring workshops, coaching, and unlimited resources to help you feel heard and supported in your changing role as a physician. And you can try it before you officially join with a 30-day free trial. There are thousands of physicians in our communities, and we know that you have a place here where you can thrive. We hope to see you!
And until we see you next, keep finding ways to get the support you need to regain control of how you practice medicine in this ever-changing landscape.
Peter Kim, MD is the founder of Passive Income MD, the creator of Passive Real Estate Academy, and offers weekly education through his Monday podcast, the Passive Income MD Podcast. Join our community at the Passive Income Doc Facebook Group.