#Japan #Sapporo #Hospital Management #Physician Satisfaction #Mediwel

Survey Reveals Insights on Physician Satisfaction

Recently, a comprehensive survey conducted by MediWell, a company that supports career development for medical professionals, highlighted critical insights into physician satisfaction regarding management practices in university hospitals across Japan. The survey involved responses from 1,658 physicians and indicates shifting trends in the landscape of medical careers.

Traditionally, university hospitals, led by professors, exerted significant control over personnel decisions, which often made it challenging for many physicians to explore career opportunities outside these academic frameworks. However, with the implementation of new clinical training systems in 2004, physicians are increasingly free to choose their work locations, leading to a notable decrease in the number of physicians opting for careers tied to university hospitals.

This survey's aim was to gauge how current management practices at university departments are influencing the overall job satisfaction of physicians. Remarkably, the findings showed that physicians not affiliated with university medical departments reported a higher satisfaction level compared to their affiliated counterparts. Specifically, 67.8% of physicians tied to university departments expressed satisfaction with their current positions, while a significant 82.9% of non-affiliated physicians felt the same.

Furthermore, more than half of the physicians affiliated with university hospitals indicated that they felt there are few hospitals among their affiliated institutions they would like to work at, with 56.9% responding that they had “not many” or “hardly any” desired options available.

Key Findings from the Survey

1. Workplace Satisfaction Levels:
- A stark contrast was highlighted, as 82.9% of those without university department ties reported satisfaction, compared to only 67.8% of their affiliated peers.

2. Perception of Affiliated Hospitals:
- Over 56% of affiliated physicians indicated they had little to no interest in the hospitals they were connected to.
- Additionally, 40% expressed feelings that there weren't enough affiliated hospitals available to them.

3. Desires for Personnel Management:
- When asked about personnel preferences, nearly half of the respondents felt that their personal career aspirations were not adequately reflected or realized within their present department. Many expressed a sense of disconnect regarding how decisions are made in personnel management.

Free Responses Highlighting Key Issues

• - One physician mentioned a decline in available affiliated hospitals and a decrease in department members, emphasizing that reliance solely on faculty members has become impractical, leading to an increase in local hires.
• - Another physician pointed out the necessity for conducting thorough surveys to gauge the workplace preferences of all department members, suggesting there’s a trend of inequality regarding whose preferences are acknowledged.
• - One respondent highlighted financial concerns regarding inter-departmental transfers, stating that such moves lead to significant long-term financial loss due to interruptions in retirement fund contributions and out-of-pocket costs incurred during transitions. This system, they argued, is not sustainable in the context of the current generation's high literacy and awareness of career management.

Research Methodology

• - The survey was conducted online from October 21 to October 31, 2025, with a total of 1,658 valid responses from members of MediWell.

For those interested in a deeper dive into the survey results or analysis, the full details can be accessed here.

About MediWell

MediWell has been operational since 2004, providing vital career support services for over 70,000 medical professionals. Their offerings include consulting services for healthcare institutions, disseminating management information, introducing healthcare personnel, and organizing training and events. Based in Sapporo, Hokkaido, they are committed to improving the medical workforce landscape in Japan.

For more information on their services, please visit MediWell's website.