The Moral Responsibility of Health IT Developers: Alleviating Physician Burnout

By Board Member, Shereese Maynard, MS, MBA She/Her , Sharp Index

Suicide among doctors is increasing, not just here in the U.S. but globally. According to a 2021 The Physicians Foundation study, 55% of physicians know a physician who considered, attempted, or died by suicide. It may be surprising that while we have all, more than likely, heard about the crisis of physician suicide, the scientific study of the prevalence of physician depression or suicidal ideology has yet to be performed across all specialties.

Did you know that a significant portion of physician burnout can be attributed to Health Information Technology (Health IT)? Recent studies indicate a direct link between the two. While solutions are developed to revolutionize and simplify the practice of medicine, they inadvertently contribute, in some measure, to the growing concerns of physicians. I've often heard Health IT vendors proudly state, "Our solution unburdens doctors." Yet, I can't help but counter, "Have you consulted actual doctors about that assertion?"

Physician wellness is no area in which to posture; we must build tech solutions that actively help solve the issue of physician burnout. Let's look at the problem.

Physician Burnout & Suicide: The Silent Epidemic

Studies consistently reveal the concerning reality that physicians experience higher rates of burnout, depression, and suicide than the general population. A report by the American Medical Association (AMA) highlights that nearly 63% of physicians report signs of burnout,?such as emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, at least once weekly. The factors contributing to this crisis are manifold - administrative overload, bureaucratic tasks, longer work hours, and, notably, inefficient Health IT systems.

The consequences are severe. According to a meta-analysis published in the journal JAMA, physicians have a suicide rate approximately 2.2 times higher than the general population. For every physician who tragically takes their own life, a community loses a healer, and countless patients lose their trusted care provider.?

The Health IT Burden: A Double-Edged Sword

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and other IT solutions were initially introduced with the promise of improved patient care, reduced costs, and heightened efficiency. However, a study from the *Annals of Family Medicine* reports that primary care physicians spend more than half of their workday interacting with the EHR, often leading to prolonged work hours and work-home interference.

The implications are dire. Instead of enabling doctors, poorly designed Health IT can instead serve as a source of increased stress, administrative workload, and cognitive burden. When the technology meant to simplify processes complicates them, it’s not just an inconvenience; it contributes directly to the escalating rates of physician burnout and subsequent mental health challenges. Here's the thing; this is news to any of us in the HIT sector. We need to do better.

The Call to Action for Health IT Developers??

"If your tech is contributing to the physician's burden, you should feel responsible for solving the problem." -SMT

This statement encapsulates the ethos that every Health IT developer should internalize. Creating a tool isn't merely about showcasing advanced tech capabilities. It's about its end-user, in this case, our nation's doctors who are at the frontline of patient care. Health IT systems should:

1. Prioritize User Experience (UX): Systems should be intuitive, reducing the learning curve and unnecessary complexities.

2. Reduce Administrative Tasks: Technology should automate mundane tasks, freeing physicians to do what they do best - care for patients.

3. Promote Interoperability: Systems should communicate seamlessly with one another to reduce redundancies and errors.

A Shared Responsibility ??

The issue of physician burnout and the rising tide of physician suicides is a pressing concern that demands immediate attention. Health IT developers are uniquely positioned to be part of the solution. By recognizing the potential negative impacts of their creations and actively working to mitigate them, developers can play a significant role in reducing the physician burden—that's the job.

The well-being of our healthcare providers transcends mere personal or professional implications—it is inextricably intertwined with the very fabric of societal welfare. The weight of this crisis does not rest solely on the shoulders of the medical community; it's shared by everyone involved in the healthcare ecosystem, including health IT developers. It necessitates collective responsibility, notably from those at the helm of health IT development. It is imperative for developers to recognize our pivotal role in reshaping the healthcare landscape and to ensure our solutions prioritize physician welfare and usability. By instilling a profound culture of understanding, empathy, and accountability, we can collaboratively pave the way for a more resilient, well-equipped, and thriving physician workforce, thus safeguarding the overall health of our communities—that's job performance.

References

1. 10 Facts About Physician Suicide. ACGME
2. Physician Suicide: A Call to Action. Molly C. Kalmoe, MD, Matthew B. Chapman, MD, Jessica A. Gold, MD & Andrea M. Giedinghagen, MD
3. Physician Burnout. AMA.org. https://www.ama-assn.org/topics/physician-burnout.
4. Eric G Poon and others, Health information technology and clinician burnout: Current understanding, emerging solutions, and future directions, Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, Volume 28, Issue 5, May 2021, Pages 895–898, https://doi.org/10.1093/jamia/ocab058
5. A Scoping Review of Health Information Technology in Clinician Burnout. Danny T. Y. Wu , Catherine Xu , Abraham Kim , Shwetha Bindhu , Kenneth E. Mah , Mark H. Eckman