The future of care: Balancing patient expectations, physician wellness & systemic change

Patients today are informed, connected, and expect personalized, efficient care. Meanwhile, physicians are at their breaking point—juggling these expectations while navigating an overburdened, outdated health care system. Stuck in a fee-for-service model that values quantity over quality, providers face mounting pressure that puts their mental health, job satisfaction, and well-being on the line.

Furthermore, patients experience worsening care due to physician burnout. The overwhelming demands, lack of time, and emotional toll of managing an inefficient, high-pressure health care system, lead to decreased focus, mistakes, and compromised patient outcomes.

It’s clear: the current system isn’t working. To break the cycle of patient frustration, poor care, and provider burnout, systemic change is needed—change that prioritizes both quality care and provider wellness.

The patient’s perspective

Today’s patients want more than just a diagnosis—they want comprehensive, timely, and compassionate care. Unfortunately, the health care system is falling short of these expectations for three-quarters of U.S. adults.

Forty percent of patients have experienced a “longer than reasonable” wait for health care, and nearly half of those patients—including those seeking mental health services—gave up and did not receive care as a result. These long wait times, as well as disconnected care and a lack of individualized attention, contribute to rising dissatisfaction among patients.

The provider’s dilemma

As patient frustration grows, so does the pressure on health care providers.

According to Indeed’s 2024 Pulse of Healthcare Report, 64% of providers are overwhelmed by excessive duties, while nearly a third lack the necessary resources to deliver high-quality care. This is taking a toll on physicians’ mental health, with 83% reporting that job stress contributes to burnout and depression. Many have already left the profession and the physician deficit is expected to grow to up to 86,000 by 2036. Those who remain are stretched thin, leaving little room for the personalized care patients want.

It’s undeniable: doctors cannot deliver the highest standard of care to their patients if their own well-being is overlooked.

The systemic challenge

The traditional health care model exacerbates these issues. The fee-for-service system prioritizes volume—more patients, more visits, more procedures—over quality of care. Doctors feel pressure to book more appointments (often rushing through them) to meet quotas. The current healthcare system prioritizes treatment over prevention and long-term well-being, often at the expense of care quality. This approach increases the risk of medical errors, fuels the rise of chronic conditions, and creates a cycle of frustration for both physicians and patients.

An overwhelming administrative burden adds to the strain, with excessive paperwork and insurance requirements eating into the time physicians could spend with patients. It’s no surprise that 62% of physicians cite bureaucratic tasks as a leading cause of burnout, followed by long work hours at 41%. This inefficient system leaves providers exhausted and patients underserved.

Fundamental strategies for change

Significant change is needed to create a better experience for both patients and providers. Here are a few strategies that can help:

1. Mend the Doctor-Patient Relationship: The foundation of high-quality care lies in a trusting doctor-patient relationship. Take the time to listen, understand, and connect with patients. Educate them about care options and treatment plans. Follow up with patients to see how they are doing. This is key to building a long-term, happy relationship.
2. Prioritize Provider Wellness: Physicians who feel supported engage with patients on a deeper level. Initiatives that focus on reducing provider burnout and improving work-life balance are essential. Mental health support, stress management resources, and manageable work hours can help physicians maintain their well-being while cultivating a positive care environment for patients.
3. Redefine Success: In health care, success should be measured by the quality of care delivered, not the number of patients seen. Transitioning from a fee-for-service system to a value-based care model shifts the focus to what truly matters—patient outcomes. This approach rewards physicians for achieving improved health metrics, higher patient satisfaction, and lower readmission rates, rather than simply increasing the volume of services provided.
4. Focus on Whole-Person Care: This holistic approach, addressing the full spectrum of an individual’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being, fosters deeper relationships between patients and providers, leading to more personalized and comprehensive care. By considering the whole person, rather than just isolated symptoms, doctors are better equipped to provide proactive, preventative, and effective treatment, resulting in improved health outcomes and higher job satisfaction for health care professionals.
5. Cut Administrative Load: Administrative overload leads to lower-quality care and physician burnout. Streamlining paperwork and reducing unnecessary tasks can alleviate this strain, freeing up valuable time for physicians to focus on patients. Technology can help by automating processes and improving decision-making.
6. Expand Access to Care: Patients want convenience and affordability, and physicians want better work hours. Establishing local, community-based health centers drastically improves access to affordable (and in some cases, free) care for patients, and offers better work-life balance for care teams. Allowing patients to connect with providers by leveraging technology such as telemedicine and virtual care platforms is another way to ensure they get the care they need, easing the burden for all.
7. Leverage Team-Based Care: A team-based approach, where physicians, nurses, specialists, and other healthcare professionals collaborate on a patient’s care plan distributes responsibilities, reduces workloads, and ensures patients receive well-rounded, comprehensive care.
8. Encourage Preventive Care and Wellness: Focus on prevention rather than just treatment. Wellness initiatives, screenings, and education can reduce the prevalence of chronic conditions and improve overall patient health and satisfaction with their physician.

Balanced care for a better future

The future of health care comes down to balance—prioritizing the care and well-being of both patients and providers. When providers are burned out and overwhelmed, it’s impossible to give patients the care they deserve. And when patients feel neglected or dissatisfied, it only adds to the strain on providers.

It doesn’t have to be this way. By aligning incentives with improved outcomes and long-term health, healthcare can be transformed from a revolving door of appointments to a system where patients get the thoughtful, personalized care they expect, and providers have the time and energy to deliver it.

Jordan Taradash is the CEO of PeopleOne Health,leading the next generation of primary care by seamlessly blending treatment and prevention. This innovative model provides significant savings for employers and employees, offering award-winning, value-based care that prioritizes long-term well-being and delivers up to 30% savings. He holds a BS in Finance from Pennsylvania State University and an MPH in Epidemiology from the University of Pittsburgh.