S1 Ep111: The physician engagement crisis, with Bill Heller of CHG Healthcare

Описание: Most physicians say they’re satisfied with their jobs — but far fewer say they feel engaged at work. That disconnect is at the center of CHG Healthcare’s 2025 Physician Sentiment Survey, which draws on responses from more than 900 physicians nationwide.



In this episode of Off the Chart, Medical Economics Assistant Editor Austin Littrell speaks with Bill Heller, chief operating officer at CHG Healthcare, about what’s driving low engagement despite relatively high satisfaction. They break down the survey’s findings on trust in leadership, communication gaps, administrative burden, economic pressure and why engagement plays such a critical role in retention.



Heller also discusses what highly engaged physicians say makes the biggest difference in their day-to-day work, why involvement in decision-making, including around technology and artificial intelligence (AI), matters more than ever, and what health care leaders can do now to improve engagement without major new spending.



Music Credits:

Midnight Serenade by MORRIX Holyhold - stock.adobe.com (http://stock.adobe.com/)

A Textbook Example by Skip Peck - stock.adobe.com (http://stock.adobe.com/)



Editor's note: Episode timestamps and transcript produced using AI tools.



0:00 — Cold open

Why physician engagement is one of the most powerful retention tools health systems have.



0:16 — Intro

Austin Littrell introduces CHG Healthcare’s 2025 Physician Sentiment Survey and its core findings.



1:31 — Satisfaction vs. engagement

Why 75% job satisfaction doesn’t prevent turnover when only 18% of physicians feel engaged.



2:55 — What highly engaged physicians report differently

Transparency, open communication and trust in leadership stand out.



3:09 — How leaders build trust day to day

Visibility, explaining the “why,” frequent check-ins, and closing feedback loops.



5:40 — Trust gaps between physicians and executives

Why physicians trust direct supervisors far more than executive leadership.



7:46 — Net Promoter Score and physician loyalty

What a negative NPS says about physician advocacy and organizational risk.



10:56 — Physicians want a voice — but feel excluded

Why most doctors want input into decisions and how leaders can meaningfully involve them.



13:10 — When physician input becomes performative

Why late-stage consultation undermines trust and better decision-making.



15:13 — P2 Management Minute

Keith Reynolds on practical, real-world workflow and engagement ideas.



16:02 — Moonlighting, job changes and economic uncertainty

How engagement dramatically lowers the likelihood physicians will leave.



19:16 — Financial stress and physician decision-making

Why economic uncertainty affects physicians more than leaders may assume.



21:16 — Administrative burden and documentation pressure

What engaged physicians say helps make daily pressures more manageable.



24:44 — Artificial intelligence: hope and concern

Why physicians want AI to reduce burden — not simply increase patient volume.



27:01 — The message physicians want leaders to hear

Visibility, listening, well-being and time for patient care.



27:50 — What leaders may be underestimating

Why small changes can produce meaningful gains in engagement.



29:13 — Outro

Final thanks, credits and where to find future episodes.