Thank you to all physicians and medical students who completed the 2025 ISMA strategic planning survey. The Board of Trustees is reviewing the results, along with input from the 2025 district meeting attendee input via the listening sessions, to develop an updated ISMA strategic plan.
As a high-level overview, the survey was completed by 596 members or nonmembers for a margin of error of +/- 4% at a 95% confidence interval.
63% of respondents are active practice physicians, 20% retired, 12% students/residents and about 5% other physician categories. 71% of respondents are ISMA members with the remaining 29% either not members (5%), former members (19%) or unsure of their status (5%). Nonmembers and former members shared valuable information about what it would take for them to join/rejoin ISMA going forward. Of the members, 76% were either very (41%) or somewhat (35%) satisfied with their ISMA membership, just 4% stating they were dissatisfied, either somewhat (3%) or very (1%).
46% of respondents, excluding students and retired, are employed by a hospital/health system, 27% are owners/partners in an independent physician practice, 10% employed in an academic/government setting, 8% employed by an independent practice and the remainder in several other settings. Of the physicians (excluding students), 44% were primary care and 56% specialists.
Of all respondents, 34% had a positive outlook on the practice of medicine while 30% were neutral and 37% had a negative outlook. Active physicians were asked how often burnout impacts their ability to practice medicine effectively with 57% reporting it did occasionally, 24% often, 16% never and 3% always.
Respondents identified several key issues impacting not only their practices but also the state of medicine in Indiana going forward. These include government/political interference, prior authorization, payor reimbursement, workforce shortages, public health funding, scope of practice and lack of trust in/respect for physicians, among others.
As for advocacy over the last five years, 57% of respondents report having personally called or emailed a legislator, 51% read ISMA Legislative News, 39% contributed to a candidate or PAC and 31% have personally met with a legislator. Other advocacy efforts included attending ISMA’s annual policy-making convention, participating in a Voter Voice call-to-action campaign or attending and ISMA Pints & Politics or Physician Advocacy Day at the Statehouse event among other activities.
The ISMA Board of Trustees work group, led by Sara Brown, MD, Board Chair and Teresa Lovins, MD, Past Board Chair, has met twice and will again next month to review more detailed survey analysis along with other data input in order to develop the 2026-2028 strategic plan. They appreciate the time members and nonmembers alike spent sharing their expert opinions to help guide the future direction of ISMA.