Physicians Advocate for Collective Action to Enhance the US Healthcare System

Patients and physicians in the United States have expressed increasing frustration with the current healthcare system, prompting physicians to consider collective strategies as a means to drive significant improvements, according to the American College of Physicians (ACP). In a recently published policy paper titled "Empowering Physicians Through Collective Action" in the Annals of Internal Medicine, ACP outlines recommendations for how physicians can actively participate in advocacy and reform efforts through organized collective efforts.

The shift away from independent practice towards employment in healthcare settings, coupled with the alarming rise in physician burnout, underscores the need for collective action. Dr. Jason M. Goldman, president of ACP, highlighted that there is growing interest among physicians—especially those in training—to unionize and organize labor activities within the healthcare sector.

This policy paper emphasizes that the primary goal of collective empowerment should be to guarantee patient access to safe, affordable, and high-quality care. It advocates for the inclusion of practicing physicians in leadership roles within hospitals and health systems and encourages collaboration between physicians and system leaders to facilitate meaningful influence.

Furthermore, ACP defends physicians' rights to engage in protected concerted activities, such as collective bargaining and advocacy, without fear of retaliation. It supports responsible actions like strikes or refusals to perform administrative duties only as last resorts, ensuring that patient safety remains paramount.

The organization also emphasizes that independently practicing physicians should have the right to negotiate collectively with health insurers regarding payment and administrative policies that impact care quality and access. Dr. Goldman concluded by asserting that empowering physicians through advocacy, organized medical staff, and collective bargaining is essential to reform the broken healthcare system and enable physicians to continue delivering high-quality care to their patients.

This initiative reflects a vital step towards creating a more equitable and effective healthcare environment through organized action and shared advocacy efforts. For more details, see the full policy paper by Ryan Crowley et al. in the Annals of Internal Medicine (2025).