OREGON MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
HOUSE OF DELEGATES
129th Annual Meeting
April 26-27, 2003
Salishan Lodge, Gleneden Beach
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT F
Informational
Oregon Medical Association
Preliminary Report of The 2003
Physician Workforce Assessment
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Background and Purpose of Assessment .........................................................................................1
Methodology ....................................................................................................................................2
Key Findings ....................................................................................................................................2
Demographics ...........................................................................................................................2
Access to Physicians .................................................................................................................3
Possible Changes in Practice ..................................................................................................10
Professional Liability Insurance Issues ..................................................................................11
Changes Due to Professional Liability Insurance Cost/Availability ......................................12
Retirement...............................................................................................................................17
Career Satisfaction ..................................................................................................................19
Background and Purpose of Assessment
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The 2003 Physician Workforce Assessment, the summary results and analysis that is presented in this
report, was undertaken for several reasons, foremost of which was to provide more reliable data on the
current and future capacity of Oregon’s medical community to provide access to the state’s citizens. There
is significant anecdotal evidence that Oregon physicians are an aging demographic group, that they are
retiring or contemplating retirement at greater than historical rates, and that it has become very difficult to
attract young physicians to the state in order to neutralize the effects of attrition on what for many years has
been an adequate workforce to meet the needs of Oregon patients. There is also ample evidence that
qualitative access problems exist and are worsening, as geographic shortages in both primary and specialty
care result in longer waits for diagnosis and treatment or for establishing a relationship with a primary care
physician at all. The Workforce Assessment is intended to provide reliable data on which to evaluate the
validity of these concerns.
The survey was also undertaken to assess the effect of the increasing cost of professional liability insurance
on access to care, both geographically and by clinical specialty. A study of obstetrical professionals
conducted last year by OHSU indicates that a very significant minority of them either has already quit
delivering babies or intends to do so in the near term. The Workforce Assessment would provide data on
this concern for all clinical specialties.
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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT F
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Finally, the survey is intended to determine by region and by specialty whether physicians are willing or
indeed financially able to care for patients based on their source of insurance coverage or lack thereof. For
example, given that both Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates approach or are below the cost of
providing medical services, the survey data should provide hard evidence as to the impact of low
reimbursement on the ability of the elderly and the poor to obtain access to care.
Methodology
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Questionnaires were mailed to 10,050 physicians listed as practicing in Oregon with an active Oregon
license. Of the questionnaires mailed, 176 were returned because the physician did not practice in Oregon.
4,746 (48%) of eligible questionnaires were returned. This rate of return means that data is included in this
report from approximately one-half of the physicians practicing in Oregon. Thus, the following analyses
and findings represent the demographic data, activities, and plans of 1 out of every 2 physicians throughout
the state of Oregon.
Key Findings
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Demographics

68 percent OMA members.

76 percent Male - 24 percent Female.

18 percent under age 40, 54 percent age 40 to 59 years, 28 percent age 60 years or older.
Gender
26.3
30
Percent
Female
24%
Age Group
20
28
17.7
15.3
12.7
10
0
Male
76%
< 40
40 - 49 50 - 59 60 - 69
Age
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
Over three-quarters (3,580) currently have a clinical practice in Oregon.

750 (15.8%) physicians were retired with no clinical practice.

An additional 277 – 5.8 percent had no professional time in direct patient care.

A total of 3,719 respondents could have answered questions included in this analysis.
70 +
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The primary specialties reported most frequently included family practice (816), internal medicine
(768), obstetrics-gynecology (299), pediatrics (299), psychiatry (274), anesthesiology (254), and
surgery (251).

For purposes of this report, the responses of four high-risk specialties were highlighted. These
included physicians in obstetrics, neurological surgery, general surgery and orthopedic surgery.

Over one-half (52.3%) of the respondents practice in the greater Portland metropolitan area.
Geographic Area
Portland Metro
8%
Mid-Willamette
Valley
2%
4%
NW OR
11%
Southern OR
2%
52%
Eastern OR
21%
SW OR
Central OR
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
In addition to English, the most frequent languages in which respondents can communicate
adequately for most clinical purposes include Spanish (733), French (154) and German (141).

Over two in five physicians (43.3%) have held a medical license for more than 20 years.

43.1 percent of females have held a medical license 10 years or less, while only 23.1 percent of males
have done so.

60.6 percent of respondents practice in a private office or clinic while 30.5 percent reported that they
practice in a hospital setting.

About one third of the respondents practice in a large group of ten or more physicians. 21.7 percent
reported they have a solo practices; another 21.4 percent practice in a small group practice and 21.1
practice in a medium-sized group.
Access to Physicians
OVER ONE-HALF OF PHYSICIANS HAVE SOME RESTRICTIONS ON ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS INCLUDING
9.5 PERCENT OF PHYSICIANS WHO DO NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPT ANY NEW PATIENTS.
“I worry about the health and viability of many primary care practices in this state-where will patients go
for care.” - Survey respondent
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Over 10 percent of physicians in the Mid-Willamette Valley (12.1%) and SW Oregon (15.5%) do not
currently accept new patients. Physicians in SW Oregon were least likely to be open to all or most
patients.

13 percent of physicians in primary care do not accept new patients.

Only one third of primary care physicians (34.0%) were open to all patients compared to almost
double that amount for medical (65.0%), and surgical specialties (62.7%).
Practice Status
Accepting New Patients
10%
22%
Open to All
43%
Open to Most
Open to Some
Not Open
25%
Percent
Grouped Specialties-Accepting New Patients
70
Open to All
Not Open
35
Surgical
Specialties
Medical
Specialties
Primary
Care
0
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ALMOST 40 PERCENT OF PHYSICIANS (39.4%) FOR MEDICARE FEE FOR SERVICE AND 38.9 PERCENT FOR
MEDICARE + CHOICE) DO NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPT MEDICARE PATIENTS OR LIMIT ACCEPTANCE OF
MEDICARE PATIENTS.
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“I am a young physician and do not see Medicare or Medicaid patients due to low reimbursement and
rules/regulations.” - Survey respondent
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Over one-half of physicians in primary care do not currently accept Medicare patients (27.9%) or
limit their acceptance (23.8%).
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21.4 percent of physicians in the Portland area do not accept Medicare patients. Physicians in the
Mid-Willamette Valley were most likely to report that they did not accept any Medicare patients
(23.0%).

Approximately 45 percent of physicians in the Mid Willamette Valley, Southern Oregon and SW
Oregon do not currently accept Medicare patients or limit their acceptance of Medicare patients.
75
50
25
0
Medicare
Accept
None
The graph above is based on the numbers for Medicare Fee for Service (which were very
similar to Medicare+Choice) and on the numbers for OHP-OMAP Fee for Service (which
were very similar to OHP – Medicaid HMO).
Accepting Patients with Medicare
Fee for Service by Geographic Area
60
50
40
30
20
10
Limit Acceptance
Accept None
Central OR
SW OR
Eastern OR
Southern OR
NW OR
MidWillamette
Valley
0
Portland
Metro
Percent
7
8
9
10
11
Limit
Acceptance
OHP-Medicaid
Accept All
Percent
Medicare - OHP-Medicaid
Accepting New Patients
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Accepting Patients with Medicare Fee for Service by Grouped
Specialties
60
50
Percent
40
30
20
10
0
Primary Care
Medical Specialties
Limit Acceptance
Surgical Specialties
Accept None
1
Accepting Patients with OHP-OMAP
Fee for Service by Geographic Area
60
50
Percent
40
30
20
10
Limit Acceptance
Central OR
SW OR
Eastern OR
Southern OR
NW OR
MidWillamette
Valley
Portland
Metro
0
Accept None
Accepting Patients with OHP-OMAP
Fee for Service by Grouped Specialties
70
60
Percent
50
40
30
20
10
0
Primary Care
Medical Specialties
Limit Acceptance
Surgical Specialties
Accept None
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OVER ONE IN FIVE PHYSICIANS (22.8% FOR OMAP FEE FOR SERVICE AND 24.0% FOR MEDICAID
HMOS) DO NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPT OREGON HEALTH PLAN (HMO) PATIENTS. ADDITIONALLY, OVER
ONE IN FOUR PHYSICIANS (27.4% FOR OMAP FEE FOR SERVICE AND 26.9% FOR MEDICAID HMOS)
LIMIT THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF THESE PATIENTS.
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“OHP provides well below the cost of providing care—it asks physicians to provide essentially free care
under the guise of a governmental coverage program.” - Survey respondent

Physicians in primary care were most likely to report that they accepted no OHP patients (28.0% for
OMAP Fee for Service and 29.2% for Medicaid HMOs) or limited their acceptance of OHP patients
(33.1% for OMAP Fee for Service and 32.4% for Medicaid HMOs).

Over one-fourth of the physicians in the Portland Metropolitan area (27.7%) do not accept Medicaid
HMO patients and 26.1% do not accept OMAP fee for Service patients.

Approximately one-half of physicians in Southern Oregon do not accept Oregon Health Plan patients
or limit their acceptance. This was also true of physicians in NW Oregon.
OVER ONE-FOURTH OF PHYSICIANS (27.3%) DO NOT ACCEPT PATIENTS FOR WORKERS’ COMPENSATION.

Physicians in primary care (33.7%) were most likely to report that they did accept workers’
compensation patients.
OF THE PHYSICIANS WHO REPORTED THAT THEY LIMIT ACCEPTANCE OR NO LONGER ACCEPT
MEDICARE PATIENTS, THE MAJORITY MADE THIS DECISION DURING OR AFTER 2001.

Of the physicians who made the decision to limit acceptance of Medicare patients, about one third
made this decision in 2002 (31.5 for Fee for Service and 34.9% for Medicare + Choice)

Of the physicians who made the decision to close their practices to Medicare patients, one-fourth made
the decision in 2002 (28.1% for Fee for Service; 24.2% for Medicare + Choice)
OF THE PHYSICIANS WHO REPORTED THAT THEY LIMIT ACCEPTANCE OR NO LONGER ACCEPT OREGON
HEALTH PLAN PATIENTS, APPROXIMATELY THREE-QUARTERS MADE THIS DECISION DURING
OR AFTER 2000.
Year Restricting Accepting
OHP-OMAP Fee for Service Patients
Year Restricting Accepting
Medicare Fee for Service Patients
80
80
60
60
Percent
Percent
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21
22
23
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35
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37
40
40
20
20
0
0
2003
2002
2001
2000
2003
2002
Year
Limiting Acceptance
No Longer Accepting
2001
2000
Year
Limiting Acceptance
No Longer Accepting
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Of the physicians who made the decision to limit acceptance or close their practices to Oregon Health
Plan patients, approximately one-fourth made this decision in 2002.
Over ten percent of additional respondents who reported limiting their practices or closing their
practices to Oregon Health Plan patients did so in 2003.
IT TOOK AN AVERAGE OF 12.62 CALENDAR DAYS FOR ESTABLISHED PATIENTS TO BE SEEN FOR NONURGENT APPOINTMENTS.

Physicians in SW Oregon (16.42 days), Southern Oregon (14.50 days), and Eastern Oregon (12.76
days) reported longer average time frames.

Physicians in medical specialties reported the longest average time frames (17.95 days) with ten
percent of established patients seen after 30 days for non-urgent appointments.

It took an average of 16.52 days to see an obstetrician-gynecologist for a non-urgent appointment.

The average number of days for some selected specialties are 27.21 days for gastroenterology, 20.74
days for urology and 11.74 days for psychiatry.
IT TOOK AN AVERAGE OF 20.64 CALENDAR DAYS FOR NEW PATIENTS TO BE SEEN FOR NON-URGENT
APPOINTMENTS.

Physicians in Southern Oregon (27.25 days), SW Oregon (26.67 days), Central Oregon (22.34 days),
and NW Oregon (21.53 days) reported longer average time frames.
Calendar Days for Non-Urgent Appointment
Established Patients
New Patients
Central OR
SW OR
Eastern OR
Southern OR
NW OR
Mid-Willamette Valley
Portland Metro
0
5
10
15
20
Calendar Days
25
30
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Physicians in medical specialties reported the longest average time frame (24.40 days) with 21 percent
of new patients seen after 30 days for non-urgent appointments.

It took an average of 21.51 days to see an obstetrician-gynecologist for a non-urgent appointment.
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The average number of days for some selected specialties are 50.66 days for gastroenterology, 18.60
days for urology, and 27.71 days for psychiatry.
Calendar Days for Non-Urgent Appointment
Urology
Gastroenterology
ObstetricsGynecology
All Respondents
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Calendar Days
Established Patients
PHYSICIANS IN OREGON SPENT AN AVERAGE OF 34.90 HOURS PER WEEK SEEING PATIENTS AND AN
AVERAGE OF 9.45 HOURS PER WEEK DOING PAPER WORK OR ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS RELATED TO
PATIENT CARE (TABLES BB AND CC). (These hours do not include time spent for professional time outside
of direct patient such as teaching, research, etc.)
Hours Per Week in Direct Patient Care Activities
by Grouped Specialties
60
50
40
30
Paperwork/
Admin
20
Seeing
Patients
Other
HospitalBased
Practice
Surgical
Specialties
0
Medical
Specialties
10
Primary
Care
Hours
8
9
10
11
12
New Patients
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PHYSICIANS REPORTED AN AVERAGE OF 39.71 HOURS PER WEEK ON CALL.
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Physicians in rural areas were more likely to report greater hours spent on call per week (NW Oregon
60.54 hours; Southern Oregon 42.62 hours, SW Oregon 42.17 hours, Eastern Oregon 61.44 hours and
Central Oregon 46.28 hours).
Physicians in surgical specialties reported the greatest number of hours spent on call per week with
55.84 hours.
Number of Patients Per Week
100
Patients
80
60
40
New Patients
20
Established
Patients
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9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
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33
Other
HospitalBased
Practice
Surgical
Specialties
Medical
Specialties
Primary
Care
0
PHYSICIANS SAW AN AVERAGE OF 55.53 ESTABLISHED PATIENTS AND 14.26 NEW PATIENTS
PER WEEK.

Physicians outside of the Portland metropolitan area reported a higher average number of established
patients seen per week.
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Physicians in primary care reported more established patient visits per week (64.47 patients).
Possible Changes in Practice
COST OR AVAILABILITY OF PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE (3.87%), THE COST
OF DOING BUSINESS/OVERHEAD (3.72%) AND ADMINISTRATIVE
BURDENS/PAPERWORK (3.72%) WERE RATED THE HIGHEST BY PHYSICIANS ON A SCALE
OF 1 TO 5 AS IMPORTANT IN THEIR DECISIONS TO MAKE CHANGES WITHIN THE NEXT
TWO YEARS.
“I gave up most of my private practice 2 years ago—reimbursement and overhead were big issues.” Survey respondent

Medicare Reimbursement (3.70%), Oregon Health Plan Reimbursement and the Increase in
Government Regulations were also rated highly.
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Physicians outside of the Portland Metropolitan area and the Mid-Willamette Valley were more
likely to rate Medicare and Oregon Health Plan reimbursement as an important issue.
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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT F
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Physicians in selected specialties of obstetrics-gynecology (4.50%), physicians in neurological
surgery (4.86%), physicians in orthopedic surgery (4.28%) and physicians in general surgery
(4.31%) all rated the cost or availability of professional liability insurance as their most important
factor regarding any changes to their practice.
Importance of Issues on Changes - Rating 1-5 Scale
Cost/Availability of
Liability Insurance
3.87
Cost of Doing
Business/Overhead
3.72
Administrative
Burdens/Paperwork
3.72
ReimbursementMedicare
3.70
ReimbursementOregon Health Plan
3.56
Increase in
Government
Regulations
3.53
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
3.50
4.00
4.50
5.00
Rating
5
6
7
Professional Liability Insurance Issues
“OMA’s #1 priority should be tort reform.” - Survey respondent
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9
10
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14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
“My malpractice insurance has quadrupled because I live in Oregon.” – Survey respondent

The majority of physicians (78.5%) report their source of professional liability insurance from
commercial insurance companies.

The amount of professional liability coverage that most physicians reported carrying is $1 million per
claim/$3 million aggregate.
THE AVERAGE ANNUAL PREMIUM FOR THE RESPONDENTS WAS $13,786.

The annual premium amount decreased with age.

Physicians in surgical specialties reported higher premiums ($25,019 average).
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Physicians in selected specialties reported high premiums (obstetricians-gynecologists $35,044;
neurological surgeons $46,942; orthopedic surgery $22,176; and general surgery $24,166).
Annual Liability Insurance Premium by Selected
Specialties
50,000
45,000
40,000
Dollars
35,000
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
Annual
Premium
10,000
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
General
Surgery
Orthopedic
Surgery
Neurological
Surgery
All
Respondents
0
ObstetricsGynecology
5,000
PHYSICIANS IN OREGON HAD AN AVERAGE OF LESS THAN ONE CLAIM (0.90 CLAIMS) FILED DURING
THEIR CAREER.

Physicians in obstetrics-gynecology (1.35), neurological surgery (3.93), orthopedic surgery (1.96) and
general surgery (1.73) averaged higher than one claim filed during their career.

Surgical specialties had the highest rate of claims filed (2.16) during their career.

The number of claims paid per physician during their career average less than one-third of a claim
(0.29).
Changes Due to Professional Liability Insurance Cost/Availability
SIX PERCENT OF PHYSICIANS HAVE ALREADY STOPPED OR DEFINITELY WILL STOP
PROVIDING DIRECT PATIENT CARE.

Physicians in NW Oregon (9.7%), SW Oregon (10.6%) and Eastern Oregon (13.2%) were most likely
to report that they have already stopped or will definitely stop providing direct patient care.

8.4 percent of physicians in surgical specialties have already stopped or will definitely stop providing
direct patient care.
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Over eight percent of physicians in obstetrics-gynecology (8.2%), and orthopedic surgery (8.4%) have
already stopped or definitely will stop providing direct patient care.

Almost one third of physicians in neurological surgery report that they have stopped (4.3%) or will
stop providing (26.1%) direct patient care.

Physicians from 60 to 69 and physicians older than 70 were most likely to report that they had
stopped or would definitely stop providing direct patient care.
17.5 PERCENT OF PHYSICIANS HAVE ALREADY STOPPED OR WILL DEFINITELY STOP
PROVIDING CERTAIN SERVICES.
13
14
I just changed practices and dropped OB and am now GYN only. Thus far I feel it was a tremendously
wise move for me.” - Survey respondent
Stop Providing Certain Services Due to
Professional Liability Insurance
50
Percent
40
30
Definitely Will
20
Already Have
10
General
Surgery
Orthopedic
Surgery
Neurological
Surgery
ObstetricsGynecology
0
Selected Specialties
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34

An additional 15.8 percent of physicians will consider a change.

The percentage of physicians who have stopped providing certain services increases with age.

Physicians in areas outside of the Portland Metropolitan area were most likely to report that they had
stopped providing certain services or would do so: Mid Willamette Valley (19.7%); .NW Oregon
(29.5%); Southern Oregon (24.1%); Eastern Oregon (29.2%); SW Oregon (29.9%); and Central
Oregon (20.8%).

Physicians in primary care (19.9%) or surgical specialties (23.5%) were most likely to report that
they had stopped providing certain services or would do so.

23.5 percent of physicians in obstetrics-gynecology, 43.4 percent of physicians in neurological
surgery and 27.1 percent of orthopedic surgeons reported that they had stopped providing certain
services or would do so.

The most frequently reported services that physicians had stopped providing or would consider not
providing were obstetrics, surgery, high risk or complex cases, hospital services and emergency
department coverage.
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18
OVER TEN PERCENT OF PHYSICIANS (10.9%) HAVE STOPPED PROVIDING OR DEFINITELY
WILL STOP PROVIDING SERVICES TO SPECIFIC GROUPS OF PATIENTS.

Higher percentages of physicians in rural areas of the state were likely to report that they had stopped
providing services to specific groups or would do so: NW Oregon (18.7%); Southern Oregon
(15.0%); Eastern Oregon (15.8%), and SW Oregon (16.4%).

15.7 percent of physicians in surgical specialties have stopped providing or definitely will stop
providing services to specific groups of patients.

16.4 percent of physicians in obstetrics-gynecology, 19 percent of physicians in neurological surgery
and 18.9 percent of physicians in orthopedic surgery and 15.6 percent of physicians in general surgery
reported that they had stopped providing services to specific groups of patients or would do so.

The specific groups physicians most frequently reported they had stopped or would stop providing
services to were patients on Medicaid, patients on Medicare, complex or high risk patients and OB
patients.
Stop Providing Services to Specific Groups Due
to Professional Liability Insurance
Percent
20
10
Definitely Will
Already Have
Other
HospitalBased
Practice
Surgical
Specialties
Medical
Specialties
Primary
Care
0
Selected Specialties
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
TWENTY PERCENT OF PHYSICIANS HAVE ALREADY INCREASED DIAGNOSTIC
PROCEDURES OR PLAN TO DO SO.

Physicians in rural areas of the state were more likely to report that they have already increased the
diagnostic procedures they perform or plan to do so.

Over one-fourth of the physicians in Southern Oregon have already increased diagnostic procedures
or plan to do so.
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
Physicians in orthopedic surgery (27.6%) or in general surgery (25.2%) reported that they have
already increased the diagnostic procedures they perform or plan to do so.
4.3 PERCENT OF PHYSICIANS HAVE ALREADY CLOSED OR SOLD THEIR PRACTICES OR
WILL DEFINITELY DO SO.
Close or Sell Practice Due to Professional Liability
Insurance
Central Oregon
SW Oregon
Eastern Oregon
Southern Oregon
Already
Have
Definitely
Will
NW Oregon
Mid-Willamette Valley
Portland Metropolitan
0
5
10
Percent
15
7
8
9
“If tort reform or some other relief of increasing liability costs is not enacted I will leave the state or quit
practice.” - Survey respondent
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
Physicians in Eastern Oregon (12.0%) and SW Oregon (10.9%) were most likely to report that
they have already closed or sold their practice or that will definitely do so.

Physicians in obstetrics-gynecology (6.7%) and physicians in neurological surgery (11.2%)
reported that they have closed or sold their practice or that they will definitely do so.
4.5 PERCENT OF PHYSICIANS HAVE ALREADY RELOCATED THEIR PRACTICES OR
DEFINITELY WILL DO SO.
“Oregon needs to ‘do something’ to keep good doctors from leaving.” - Survey respondent
22
23
24
25
26
27


Another 14.9 percent of the respondents may consider doing so.

About one in five physicians under the age of 49 will consider relocating their practice (physicians
under 40 – 20.7%; physicians 40-49 – 18.0%.)
OMA House of Delegates – April 26-27, 2003
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT F
Page 16
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Physicians in NW and Eastern Oregon were more likely to report that they would relocate their
practices (NW Oregon – 8.3%; Eastern Oregon – 8.9%)

Nearly one third of physicians (29.7%) in Eastern Oregon would consider relocating their practice.

Approximately one in five physicians in surgical specialties (23.9 %) or in hospital-based practices
(19.8%) would consider relocating their practices.
Relocate Practice Due to Professional Liability Insurance
Central Oregon
SW Oregon
Eastern Oregon
Southern Oregon
Already
Have
Definitely
Will
NW Oregon
Mid-Willamette Valley
Portland Metropolitan
0
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
5
Percent
10
OVER 10 PERCENT OF PHYSICIANS (10.7%) HAVE REDUCED THEIR PATIENT CARE
HOURS OR WILL DEFINITELY DO SO.

Physicians in rural areas of the state were more likely to report that they had reduced their patient care
hours or planned to do so.

One in five physicians in SW Oregon (21.1%) reported that they had reduced their patient care hours
or planned to do so. 16.6 percent of physicians in Eastern Oregon reported the same.

20 percent of neurological surgeons reported that they would reduce their patient care hours. Thirteen
percent of physicians in obstetrics-gynecology and fourteen percent of physicians in orthopedic
surgery reported that they have already reduced their patient care hours or would do so.
ONE IN FIVE PHYSICIANS (22.3%) HAVE INCREASED REFERRAL OF COMPLEX CASES OR
WILL DEFINITELY DO SO.

Another 17.9 percent of physicians may consider doing so.

Physicians ages 50-59 were most likely to report that they had already increased referral of complex
cases or definitely would do so (27.6%).
OMA House of Delegates – April 26-27, 2003
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT F
Page 17
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

Physicians in most areas outside of the Portland Metropolitan area were most likely to report that they
had already increased referral of complex cases or planned to do so: Mid-Willamette Valley (28.2%);
NW Oregon (29.2%); Southern Oregon (30.9%); Eastern Oregon (30.0%); Central Oregon (18.8%)
and SW Oregon (25.5%).

Physicians in surgical specialties (30.8%) were most likely to report that they had increased referral of
complex cases or planned to do so.

One fourth of physicians in obstetrics-gynecology reported that they had increased referral of complex
cases or planned to do so. Another 26.3 percent might consider doing so.

40.9 percent of physicians in neurology reported that they had increased the referral of complex cases
or would definitely do so. Another 27.3 percent might consider doing so.
Increase Referral of Complex Cases
Due to Professional Liability Insurance
Central Oregon
SW Oregon
Eastern Oregon
Southern Oregon
Already
Have
Definitely
Will
NW Oregon
Mid-Willamette Valley
Portland Metropolitan
0
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
5
10 15 20 25 30 35
Percent
Retirement
MORE THAN ONE IN FIVE PHYSICIANS (22.2%) PLAN TO RETIRE WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
“When I am ready to retire I feel I will not be able to find a physician to take over my practice because of
the poor compensation for services in the state of Oregon.” - Survey respondent

As might be expected, almost four out of five physicians (78.7%) ages 60 years and over plan to retire
within the next five years. However, nearly one third of physicians (30.4%) ages 50 to 59 also plan to
retire within the next five years.

Over one third of physicians (35.3%) in SW Oregon plan to retire within the next five years.

37 percent of physicians in neurological surgery intend to retire within the next five years.
OMA House of Delegates – April 26-27, 2003
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT F
Page 18
1
2

Physicians in surgical specialties were most likely to report they would retire in the next five years.
Retirement Plans by Age Group
Percent
100
80
60
40
No Plans
20
Within 2-5
Years
Within 12
Months
0
< 40
40-49 50-59 60-69
70 +
Age Group
3
4
5
Retirement Plans by Geographic Area
100
60
40
No Plans
Within 2-5
Years
Within 12
Months
20
Central OR
SW OR
Eastern OR
Southern
OR
NW OR
MidWillamette
Valley
0
Portland
Metro
Percent
80
OMA House of Delegates – April 26-27, 2003
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT F
Page 19
1
Retirement Plans by Selected Specialties
100
Percent
80
No Plans
60
40
20
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
General
Surgery
Orthopedic
Surgery
Neurological
Surgery
ObstetricsGynecology
0
Within 2-5
Years
Within 12
Months
Career Satisfaction
CAREER SATISFACTION OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS (3.44) WAS RATED APPROXIMATELY 10 PERCENT
LESS FOR ALL PHYSICIANS THAN THE SATISFACTION OVER THEIR ENTIRE CAREER (3.83).
“I have strongly discouraged my children from considering medicine as a career.” - Survey respondent
“I am still having fun practicing medicine.” - Survey respondent
Rating
Career Satisfaction Rating 1-5 Scale
5
4
3
2
1
0
3.73
3.69
3.85
4.21
4.46
Rating
< 40 40-49 50-59 60-69 70 +
Age Group
12
13
14
15
16
17

The highest satisfaction ratings for their overall career were reported by the physicians aged 60 to 69
years (4.21) and 70 years or older (4.46).

Career satisfaction ratings over the last 12 months were consistently lower for all categories of
physicians compared to the satisfaction ratings for their overall career.
OMA House of Delegates – April 26-27, 2003
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT F
Page 20
1
2
3
4
5

Over one-half (51.3%) of the physicians reported that the single greatest source of professional
satisfaction was patient relationships.

Only 5.5 percent of physicians reported income as the greatest source of professional satisfaction.
Source of Professional
Satisfaction
Income
17%
5% 5%
22%
Intellectual
Challenge
Patient
Relationships
Practice
Environment
51%
Other
6
7
8
9
10
“I very much enjoy my practice. As I view the practice of medicine today, I doubt I would want to go into
it.” - Survey respondent