The Real Hours Doctors Work: Hands-On Tips to Optimize

Don't we all love hero stories? Watching people overcome tough challenges is one of the reasons for the success of shows like “Survivor,” which has captivated us since 2000 and spawned 46 seasons.

But doctors don't need a TV show for that thrill. Every day feels like their own “Survivor” episode. Most doctors work far beyond the usual 40-hour week. And while their grueling hours might not surprise us, it’s time we dug into what’s consuming their time and how we can change that.

47.3% of Doctors Work 50 to 69 Hours per Week

In North America, doctors' weekly working hours are generally capped at 60-80. While most stay within this range, 7.7% of physicians worked 80 or more hours in 2021. In contrast, European doctors are generally limited to 48 hours per week.

Why do some doctors work much longer hours than others? It often comes down to their specialty. Fields like clinical care, surgery, and cardiology demand around 60 hours a week, with physicians frequently on-call for emergencies. Meanwhile, specialties like dermatology or allergy and immunology tend to offer more manageable schedules, averaging around 44 hours weekly.

The workload also evolves over a doctor's career. Residents endure long shifts and extra responsibilities to gain experience. Once they complete their training, they often have more flexibility to create a balanced work-life schedule.

As mentioned, doctors' work hours differ by region and country. For example, Canadian doctors work an average of 45.9 hours per week, while across the Pacific in Japan, the average is slightly higher at 51.1 hours weekly.

How Much of That Time Goes to Patient Visits?

The United States ranks among the top countries for patient visit duration, second only to Sweden. Over the past two decades, the average primary care exam in the U.S. has steadily increased to over 20 minutes. In the UK, the average visit time has doubled from about 5 to 10 minutes during the same period, following a gradual increase in primary care physicians. Australia presents a different case, maintaining a stable 15-minute appointment length, which has remained consistent for the past 20 years.

Research indicates that countries with more physicians per capita offer longer patient visits. While the U.S. has fewer doctors per capita compared to other nations with extended appointment times, American physicians compensate with their high availability and accessibility to patients. But it's not without impacting their health, well-being, and stress levels.

Korean Doctors Conduct 6x More Consultations

U.S. doctors conduct an average of 1,292 consultations annually. By comparison, doctors in Japan handle 4,288 consultations per year, while in Korea, that number soars to 6,113. How do we interpret this data? 

There are many possibilities, but one is that the number of consultations may reflect the balance between longer patient visits and fewer specialists per person.

In countries like Germany, Japan, and Korea, where doctors are primarily compensated through fee-for-service models, consultation rates tend to be higher than in countries where physicians are paid by salary or capitation, such as Denmark, Finland, and Sweden. Given that many U.S. doctors are also paid through fee-for-service, you might wonder why the number of consultations is lower. One key factor is the high co-payments in the U.S., which make healthcare too expensive for many patients, leading them to avoid seeing their doctors. 

Another reason for the lower number of consultations in the U.S. is the growing role of other healthcare professionals in patient care. In places like Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the U.S., nurses are increasingly taking on responsibilities that reduce the need for frequent doctor visits.

How to Optimize Doctors’ Workday?

Here’s what we know about doctors: they work long hours but don’t want to cut patient visit times. After all, treating patients is what they've devoted themselves to do. But doctors' workload goes beyond just seeing patients. They juggle EHRs, diagnoses, team management, and admin tasks, eating up their valuable time. So, how can we ease their burden, together?

Nurses and other healthcare professionals already handle many tasks doctors used to do. Giving them more autonomy to treat patients could lighten doctors' loads.

Better office administration is another fix. By outsourcing scheduling and EHR management to qualified remote medical receptionists, doctors can stay organized and coordinate better with specialists. This also improves the patient experience.

Lastly, patient education is key. Teaching patients about their conditions helps them take more control of their care, reducing the number of unnecessary appointments for minor issues. This not only enhances treatment but also cuts down on follow-ups.

Surviving the Work Shift

Doctors are exhausted but resilient, facing challenges even "Survivor" champions might find hard to imagine. While we might not have all the answers, we do know how to ease their administrative burden so they can focus on what matters: their patients. Let our expert scheduling receptionists handle the busy work, giving healthcare professionals more time to deliver the exceptional care they can provide. 🤝 Start today!