Physician burnout is a huge concern in medicine right now, especially as physicians continue to face increasing patient loads, work hours and administrative requirements. Studies have found that more than 50 percent of doctors experience at least one symptom of burnout, and these rates seem to be increasing more for doctors than for people in other professions.
Physician burnout can have negative consequences for patients, as well. Therefore, finding ways to address physician wellness within your practice can improve the overall care of both parties.
Understanding Physician Burnout
Physician burnout manifests as emotional exhaustion, compassion fatigue, disengagement and a lower sense of personal achievement, according to NEJM Catalyst. This can lead to more clinical errors as well as poor health for doctors. In fact, the New York Times reports that physicians have a suicide rate twice as high as the general public.
Besides the attention this problem is getting lately, there is some good news. Most studies that provide data for doctor burnout are talking about doctors in hospitals or large, high-volume primary care practices. However, according to the American Medical Association, the burnout rate is about 13 percent for smaller providers. All doctors have increasing demands; no matter where your practice stands, finding ways to address physician wellness to reduce or prevent burnout can protect you and your patients.
group of medical workers working together in hospital
Ways to Combat or Prevent Physician Burnout
For too long, doctors have hidden symptoms of physician burnout or depression and trudged along. When brought up, sometimes the first answer is that doctors need to focus more on their resilience or personal care, but that's only one part of the solution. Catalyst suggests that making lasting change requires adjustments to three areas:
- Efficiency of Practice: With administrative burdens and advances in technology on the rise, it can be tough to have efficient medical practice management. But taking time to step back and seek out ways to create a smoother workflow can boost your mental state. You may be able to find efficiencies with the equipment you're already using. Ultrasound companies like GE, for example, provide online and on-site training to help you begin using new technology, maximize the use of your ultrasound system and understand how certain tools and imaging functions can help boost your efficiency. Information offered though online loyalty programs for ultrasound users can provide easy access to instructional videos, quick tips, clinical information and industry news.
- Culture of Wellness: Work-life balance is a contributing factor to burnout. More and more physicians are spending their evenings and weekends completing paperwork or following up with patients via email. Finding ways to improve that balance and creating a culture within your practice that focuses on employee wellness and mental health can help prevent burnout. Culture also includes promoting growth and personal fulfillment, helping physicians rediscover why they wanted to become doctors.
- Personal Resilience: Look for strategies that allow physicians in the practice to improve their own wellness. This may include regular exercise, better nutrition, meditation or other methods to deal with the stress and emotional strain that comes with patient care. Delegate tasks as well to allow for more time to focus on personal health.
Taking the steps necessary to address physician burnout in the future can protect your practice in the long run. Look at areas that may be risks for physician wellness and plan strategies to improve medical practice management, allowing for personal care at work or other ways to support all members of your organization.
