Combatting Physician Burnout: What You Can Do

Physician burnout is a serious problem that affects medical professionals every day. This is not only detrimental to physicians, but also has severe implications for quality patient care. Healthcare professionals and administrators need to be aware of the warning signs of physician burnout and the steps needed to combat it.?

Let’s take a look at what causes physician burnout, and some actionable steps that physicians can take to combat it.?

What Causes Burnout in Physician Jobs??

Physician burnout is a pervasive issue in the healthcare industry. It can affect physicians in all specialties and various phases of their careers. There are a variety of factors that contribute to physician burnout in physician jobs. However, some of the most common are:?

• Long working hours
• Heavy workloads
• An increasing number of patients without an increasing number of staff to help?
• Excessive administrative tasks on top of patient care?
• A lack of autonomy?
• A lack of work-life balance?

Physicians are under a tremendous amount of pressure to provide high-quality care. And in many cases, this often comes at the expense of their own well-being. The above factors are not an exhaustive list of the many ways physicians experience burnout.?

How the Physician Job is Effected When Burnout Occurs?

The fallout from physician burnout does not solely land on the physician. It also affects patient care and the healthcare industry as a whole. Physicians who experience burnout are more likely to leave their current physician job early or retire earlier than they planned to. Moreover, the number of primary care physicians is already dwindling as is. And a continued decrease in physician positions will have detrimental effects on the healthcare industry.?

Additionally, the effects of physician burnout on patient care are significant as well. Burnt-out physicians are more likely to make mistakes, miss important details, spend less time with their patients, and deliver a lower quality of care. In extreme cases, these errors or missed details can have dire consequences on patients and their health.?

It is vital to be aware of the effects of physician burnout. This way, you can work toward viable preventive measures and support plants for exhausted professionals.

Ways to Combat Physician Burnout?

There are a variety of realistic ways to combat physician burnout and mitigate the detrimental effects it has on both the physician and their patients. Here are three great ways to combat physician burnout.?

Prioritize Self-Care?

Physicians often neglect their own health and well-being in favor of their patients. However, self-care is critical in preventing burnout. Prioritizing long-term personal wellness is a must. For instance, you can set aside time each day for yourself to engage in activities you enjoy and that make you feel good. This could be exercise, reading, meditation, walking, and more. Additionally, you can carve out time each day before or after your shift and dedicate intentional time to self-care.?

Connect With Colleagues?

Feeling isolated or disconnected from others will exacerbate feelings of burnout. So, make an effort to connect with other physicians and healthcare professionals on your team. Administrators should make an effort to organize networking and staffing appreciation activities regularly. This way, staff members can connect outside of their shifts.?

Seek Support?

Physicians who are feeling overwhelmed or burnt out should seek support and help. Speaking with a mental health professional is a great way to get guidance and support on managing stress levels and finding a work-life balance. Also, administrators should seek out employee assistance programs for staff members along with additional mental health resources.?

To successfully combat physician burnout, you must address the underlying cause and provide practical solutions to cope with stress. Physicians with a healthy work-life balance can have a long, fulfilling career in healthcare.?

If you’re looking to implement ways to alleviate burnout in the healthcare industry, start with the right leadership. Highmark will assist you with state-of-the-art recruitment strategies and get you on the path to success. Contact us to speak with a qualified team member today.