Survey: 41 percent of mid-sized practices are struggling

Nearly one in three doctors cite practice management costs and administrative burdens as a chief concern for their practice, according to a new survey.

The survey was conducted in December by Practice Fusion, a San Francisco-based EHR provider, and MDLinx. It collected responses from a national sample of 100 physicians, the majority of which were primary care providers with fewer than six providers.

Officials say the "2011 State of the Small Practice" survey highlights the challenges faced by private practices nationwide in an environment of economic downturn, technology mandates and healthcare reform.

"Small primary care medical practices are the backbone of the U.S. healthcare system," said Ryan Howard, CEO of Practice Fusion. "These are family doctors on the front lines; they're passionate about caring for their patients and our survey indicates that they're struggling."

According to the survey, 41 percent of doctors report that their practice is doing worse this year than compared to last year; 26 percent reported their practice is doing better, and 31 percent reported no change.

The survey indicates that insurance reimbursement delays and payments are a big concern for doctors, with 26 percent citing it as one of their chief complaints, followed by patient volume and satisfaction (11 percent). Decreases in revenue coupled with lower patient volumes are making it more difficult for doctors to keep up with the costs of running a practice, said officials.

Despite the financial pressures, the survey found that 69 percent of doctors report being satisfied or extremely satisfied with their career.

Physicians cited advancements in medicine (22 percent), patient quality (19 percent) and improvement in the healthcare workforce (15 percent) as contributing to improved satisfaction in their jobs.