primarycarevermont.org: Primary Care Physician Survey Report 2006
On Nov. 21, 2006 a survey was mailed to Vermont’s 840 primary care physicians. 300 (35.7%) responded. They were asked to indicate a level of agreement or disagreement with five statements intended to measure their level of dissatisfaction with current trends affecting professional practice. They were also given the opportunity to provide personal comments and to furnish their specialty and years in practice. This paper reports on a survey done of all of Vermont’s primary care physicians. The intent was to measure their level of dissatisfaction with conditions of professional practice under which they must work. The survey’s response rate was 35.7%, with 300 of Vermont’s 840 primary care physicians listed on the Department of Health website (family doctors, internists, pediatricians, obstetrician/gynecologists) responding.
Results were unequivocal. The level of dissatisfaction is disturbingly high. This widespread dissatisfaction is an aspect of Vermont’s health care system that has not been given adequate attention. In fact, it has been all but neglected. Past studies have focused on shortages but not the dissatisfactions with conditions of professional practice. In view of the fundamental role of primary care in health care, this paper strongly proposes that attention must be given and steps taken to avert further erosion in the conditions of professional practice in the primary care sector. If such steps are not taken, the literature tells us clearly that the costs of health care will go up significantly and the quality of health care will go down.
This survey report summarizes the views of primary care physicians across the state, and offers concrete recommendations to prepare Vermont for a healthy future.
