Vacation days taken and working during vacation tied to burnout

The number of vacation days taken by physicians -- and working on patient-related tasks while on vacation -- are tied to physician burnout, a study published January 12 in JAMA Network Open found. Researchers led by Christine Sinsky, MD, from the American Medical Association in Chicago reported that overall, nearly 60% of U.S. physicians took three weeks of vacation or less per year, while seven in 10 physicians worked while on vacation, with both findings associated with higher rates of burnout. However, among specialty disciplines, radiologists and radiation oncologists have the highest proportion of physicians taking more than three weeks of vacation. Also, radiologists had among the lowest percentage of physicians working for at least 30 minutes while on vacation. “System-level efforts to ensure physicians take adequate vacation and have coverage for clinical responsibilities, including electronic health record [EHR] inbox, may reduce physician burnout,” Sinsky and co-authors wrote. Vacation is a time for relaxation, an escape from everyday stresses like work, and an opportunity to recharge the social batteries. However, the researchers noted that not much is known about how vacation behaviors among physicians like radiologists are tied to burnout and professional fulfillment. Sinsky and colleagues investigated the number of vacation days taken per year and the magnitude of physician work while on vacation and how they may be associated with physician burnout and...
Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: Practice Management Source Type: news