Acog survey: liability woes threaten career choice, satisfaction.(News)

PHILADELPHIA -- Liability concerns and the cost of professional liability insurance are the strongest threats to career satisfaction among ob.gyns., according to a national survey of members of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

The survey examined the effect of medical liability concerns, managed care restrictions, and CME requirements on the career satisfaction of 828 ACOG members, who have been in practice for an average of 15 years.

The survey found that approximately half of ob.gyns, were extremely concerned about the extent to which liability insurance costs would shorten their careers, and this concern had a negative impact on their career satisfaction. They cited less concern about the impact of this on the amount of time they could spend with their patients.

Those who felt the most pressured by liability concerns were also those who worked the most hours, which put them at even greater risk for career dissatisfaction and burnout, reported Barbara A. Bettes, Ph.D., and her colleagues at ACOG (Obstet, Gynecol. 103[5]:967-73, 2004).

These physicians also were more likely to work in solo practices, university settings, and partnerships rather than for health maintenance organizations or the military.

"Identifying ways to increase career satisfaction levels for our obstetrician-gynecologists is imperative, not only to the physicians, but to the patients who are in their care," the authors stated in the report.

Managed care and its inherent limitations on diagnostic and treatment options was a moderate pressure for most of the respondents, and most had only slight to moderate concern about CME requirements being either a financial or a time burden.