Inside physician engagement: Why satisfaction isn’t enough

Bill Heller, chief operating officer at CHG Healthcare, unpacks one of the most striking findings from the company’s 2025 Physician Sentiment Survey: while roughly three-quarters of physicians report being satisfied with their roles, only 18% meet the criteria for being highly engaged.

Heller explains why that distinction matters. Satisfaction, he notes, can mask deeper vulnerabilities. Physicians may be content enough to stay — until mounting frustrations push them to leave.

The survey highlights persistent pressure points that leaders have struggled to fix, including heavy documentation burdens, staffing shortages and administrative workload that pulls physicians away from patient care.

Communication also emerges as a critical fault line. Physicians want a stronger voice in decisions that shape their daily work, and many feel that input is still not reaching leadership. For health care organizations facing ongoing workforce instability, Heller says the data offers a clear message: engagement isn’t about perks or compensation alone. It’s about whether physicians feel heard, supported and meaningfully connected to their organizations.