In today’s fast-paced world, work-life balance, a positive work environment, and personal fulfilment hold more value for doctors than just a hefty pay check. Surprisingly, nearly half of all doctors are willing to take a pay cut to achieve a better work experience, allowing them to work fewer hours and enjoy a greater family times. If you’re a doctor who has missed important family events or sacrificed family time due to excessive clinic hours and after-work documentation, there is a solution for you. While being a doctor is a rewarding profession that comes with significant responsibilities, it shouldn’t come at the cost of grueling work hours and an overwhelming amount of paperwork. Taking the help of medical scribes to assist with patient visit documentation can be the key to restoring work-life balance.
Work life balance
For doctors, achieving work-life balance may seem like an elusive concept at times. The paperwork requirements and the need to complete unfinished charts after hours have left many doctors feeling overwhelmed and out of balance. Research emphasizes that work-life balance is not only possible but essential for the well-being of doctors. A study conducted by Sandy L Robertson, Mark D Robinson, and Alfred Reid in 2017 found that 85% of doctors felt that Electronic Health Records (EHRs) disrupted their work-life balance. Doctors who spent time outside of regular clinic hours on EHR-related tasks reported lower satisfaction on personal family care. A demanding workload, especially administrative tasks and heavy paperwork, can significantly affect a doctor’s ability to balance work and family life. However, the use of medical scribes to alleviate the paperwork burden is one promising solution to restore balance between professional and personal commitments.
Are doctors willing to go on a pay cut to restore their work-life balance?
Despite being among the highest-paid professionals in the nation, many doctors are willing to take a substantial pay cut of up to $20,000 per annum, in exchange for a better work-life balance and more time with their families. A Medscape survey of 15,000 doctors across 29 specialties revealed that this sentiment was consistent across generations, with 52% of millennials, 48% of Generation X, and 49% of baby boomers agreeing to accept a lower salary for more free time. Female doctors showed a higher inclination (53%) to consider a pay reduction compared to 47% of their male counterparts. A significant percentage of doctors across generations were open to forgoing anywhere from $10,001 to $20,000 for a better work-life balance. Baby boomers, with higher earnings and retirement plans, were willing to forgo even more, ranging from $20,001 to $50,000.
Can scribes help restore balance in doctors’ lives?
So, can medical scribes effectively restore balance in doctors’ lives? The answer is a resounding yes. Medical scribes, with their expertise in documentation, offer doctors the opportunity to cut back on documentation hours and regain balance in their lives. With virtual medical scribes performing real-time documentation in EHRs, patient charts are ready by the time the patient leaves the exam room, eliminating the need for doctors to spend additional time on documentation outside of clinic hours. This newfound efficiency allows doctors to leave work early, enjoy quality family time, and unwind.
Today’s doctors recognize the significance of balancing work commitments with personal time and family. The failure to achieve this balance can lead to burnout and diminish the overall quality of life. Hence, many doctors are willing to prioritize a better work-life balance over financial gains. The challenges of long work hours and excessive documentation are addressed by medical scribes, who ease the burden and create a better work environment for doctors to lead their best lives both professionally and personally.