Almost all doctors in the United States say they’ve spent too much time on paperwork lately, so much so that many of them are forced to spend more time with paperwork than with their patients, according to a report just released by the Physicians Foundation, founded in 2003 as the result of a legal settlement. It’s not the paperwork alone that is contributing to the problem but, all things considered, 60% of doctors surveyed by the foundation say they would not recommend the medical profession to an interested party.

The foundation mailed more then 300,000 questionnaires to doctors across the nation, 270,000 of whom were primary care physicians and 50,000 specialists. The results of the survey appear disturbing, especially in light of the discontent the general population feels toward the current US medical system. Some findings include:

• Nonclinical paperwork has taken an increasing amount of physician time, according to more than 90% of the 12,000 primary care physicians who responded to the survey.
• This same type of paperwork has taken as many as 63% of doctors away from patient care in lieu of paperwork.
• 76% say they are working at “full capacity” or that they are “overextended and overworked.”
• 10% plan to work only part time.
• 13% plan on taking positions that involve no active patient care.
• 11% are planning their retirement.
• 78% say there are not enough primary care physicians to meet the need.
• 60% would not recommend the medical profession as a career option.

The survey results highlight the trend against doctors entering family practice or internal medicine, opting instead for medical specialties.