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Creating a satisfying practice setting for physicians. The experience of a hospital-based group practice
D P Pasternak1, H L Smith, M R Shainline
1Lovelace Medical Center, Albuquerque, NM.
Hospital Topics
|July 1, 1993
Summary
Medical groups can improve physician satisfaction by consciously designing their practice environments. A study at Lovelace Medical Center found significant improvements in primary care physician settings between 1984 and 1990.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Management
- Organizational Psychology
- Medical Practice Environment
Background:
- Physician satisfaction is crucial for quality patient care delivery.
- Medical groups face challenges in creating optimal practice environments.
- The Lovelace Medical Center and Lovelace Clinic initiated efforts to enhance their medical staff's work setting.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the impact of job design on physician satisfaction.
- To assess changes in the practice environment at Lovelace from 1984 to 1990.
- To understand physician perceptions of their work setting.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study was conducted.
- A job-design model was employed, analyzing core job characteristics and physician growth-need strength.
- Physician satisfaction and critical psychological states were measured.
Main Results:
- Primary care physicians reported significant improvements in the practice setting between 1984 and 1990.
- Specialists showed fewer changes in perception, indicating consistently high satisfaction.
- The study highlights the positive impact of intentional practice environment design.
Conclusions:
- Consciously designing and monitoring the medical practice environment is vital for physician satisfaction.
- Improvements in job characteristics positively influence physician psychological states and overall satisfaction.
- Sustained high satisfaction among specialists suggests a stable, favorable practice setting.