title: Life after medical practice. A retirement profile of Minnesota physicians.
abstract: This study investigates the current dynamics of physician retirement in Minnesota. A survey of all retired Minnesota physicians (878, with 65.7% response rate) revealed that 73% retired in their 60s, 22% at age 65. Good health was reported by 69% of the respondents, and fair health by 26%. Income was sufficient in most cases; 64% of respondents reported living comfortably, and only 14% said their incomes are barely adequate. The study also showed that retired physicians consider nonmedical activities much more important than medical activities; heading the list were visiting family (86%), reading (79%), and travel (63%). Finally, 35% of respondents found retirement to be better than they had expected, 54% found it about as expected, and only 9% felt retirement was not as good as expected. In retirement, Minnesota physicians are generally healthy, have sufficient funds to live comfortably, and generally spend their time doing nonmedical activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Practice and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, USA.
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Seim
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012179:Retirement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*