It is still a good idea, but you are right to do your due diligence. Here's my 0.02c
Increasing documentation -- is indeed a burden depending on the person and the system used. Some people see 25pts a day and leave at 430. Others see 16 per day and have charts to do every evening. The main thing to watch soon is how AI scribing helps with this and we will likely see if it is practical and if it's a good or bad thing within the next x1-2 years. Stay tuned
Decreasing reimbursement -- right now with cuts to Medicare/Medicaid, interestingly PCPs are actually doing okay as they seem to be getting LESS cuts compared to some other specialties due to some bones being thrown our way. Point is, you still make very good money in FM, just not as much money as others--which is the way it has always been. It all comes down to how efficient you are, how many RVUs you generate, and how hard you have to work for it.
Midlevel creep -- APPs are present and gaining authority, responsibilities in all specialties. Given how in demand FM is, this isn't much of an issue for anyone I know.
Burnout -- very real. Inbox management is a massive albatross. Undifferentiated patients are hard to diagnose and manage in 20min visits or less, insurance, benign neglect or demanding abuse from admin... they are all real problems.
IMG law changes -- no way to know how this will affect things, but again I am reassured by the fact that FM is so in demand everywhere it should be hit less hard than other areas. As sad as it is to say, patients will gravitate toward American grads simply because they look and sound like them. As to how pay will be affected, TBD...
Other things to consider: do you want to see OB/women? Peds? If no, but still want to do primary care go into IM.
