ProCare Systems released the "2015 Independent Physician Outlook Survey" which includes statistics on independent physicians and a look toward the future.
Here are six key statistics from the report:
1. Nearly half of the physicians surveyed said the escalating costs and downward reimbursement pressure was the most challenging aspect of running their practice today.
2. Close to a third of the respondents reported recruitment as the most challenging issue for independent physicians.
3. Incorporating decision support tools and measuring clinical quality and value was ranked among the top three issues for independent physicians over the next year.
4. More than 70 percent of the physicians said changes in the healthcare regulatory, compliance and government policy landscape are affecting their future as independent physicians. Only 1 percent said these issues don't affect their future at all.
5. Half — 56 percent — of the physicians don't anticipate selling their practice in the future; but 44 percent said they are likely to sell within the next 10 years.
6. The downward reimbursement pressure and weakening referral systems were most often ranked as the top reason physicians are selling their practice. The least influential reason was retirement.