For the third consecutive year, Minnesota ranks first in Medscape's annual list of the best places to practice medicine in the United States, which this year focused on the states with the "secret sauce" that makes them great locations for physicians.

Infographic: Navigating the physician engagement challenge

Methods

For the list, Medscape compiled data from multiple sources between March 10 and 12, including its own reports on physician compensation; physician depression and/or burnout; and lifestyle and happiness; as well as data from the Association of American Medical Colleges, U.S. News and World Report, Commonwealth Fund, Kaiser Family Foundation, and others.

Your two-pronged approach to addressing—and preventing—physician burnout

Medscape considered 10 metrics, including seven "hard" measures—such as malpractice payouts, compensation, and health system performance—and three "soft" measures, including rates of burnout and happiness at work and outside of work. 

Rankings

According to Medscape, the 10 best states in which to practice medicine are:

1. Minnesota
2. Wisconsin
3. Washington
4. Colorado
5. Utah
6. Nebraska
7. Iowa
8. North Carolina
9. Massachusetts
10. Idaho.

Meanwhile, according to Medscape, the five worst states in which to practice medicine are:

1. West Virginia
2. Louisiana
3. New Mexico;
4. Nevada
5. Rhode Island

According to Reese, West Virginia "ranks among the least livable and healthy" states, and doctors there face a "high rate of adverse actions," with malpractice payouts last year proportionally high when compared with the small population (Reese, "Best & Worst Places to Practice 2021," Medscape, 5/21; Gooch, Becker's Hospital Review, 5/24).