Approximately one-third of practicing physicians are considering either leaving the field or reducing their work hours, according to a July 23 report from the American Medical Association.
This includes a large number of younger and midcareer physicians.
The AMA surveyed more than 12,400 physicians across 31 states and more than 80 health systems to determine what percentage of physicians are considering leaving their current positions.
From 2022 to 2023, 35.7% of doctors said they had a moderate interest in leaving their current jobs within the next two years, or that they would like to or definitely would leave in that time.
That figure was down from 39.3% in 2022. Among male physicians, 35.9% reported planning to depart, compared to 33.2% of women, and 35.9% of physicians said they planned to reduce their hours within the next 12 months.
Here are the six physician specialties with the highest levels of intent to leave the field, and the percentage of those physicians who are considering a departure:
1. Internal medicine: 39.1%
2. Family medicine: 37.3%
3. Obstetrics and gynecology: 34%
4. Hospitalist medicine: 32.9%
5. Emergency medicine: 32.3%
6. Pediatrics: 30.2%