Physician Burnout Is A Public Health Crisis: A Message To Our Fellow Health Care CEOs

The Quadruple Aim recognizes that a healthy, energized, engaged, and resilient physician workforce is essential to achieving national health goals of higher quality, more affordable care and better health for the populations we serve. Yet in a recent study of U.S. physicians, more than half reported experiencing at least one symptom of burnout—a substantial increase over previous years—indicating that burnout among physicians is becoming a national health crisis. Leadership is needed to address the root causes of this problem and reposition the health care workforce for the future. The authors of this paper—the CEOs of our respective institutions—are committing to do just that. Reasons For Physician Burnout Burnout is an experience of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and feelings of low achievement and decreased effectiveness. Although the focus of this blog is physicians, burnout is also a serious problem for nurses and other health care workers. National studies indicate that burnout is more common in physicians than U.S. workers in other fields and that the gap between physician burnout and other workers’ experience is increasing. This difference is not because of physician shortcomings. The physician selection process is rigorous and eliminates those unable or unwilling to accept this lifestyle. Most physicians are altruistic and committed to their profession. They are taught to address complex problems and to embrace challenges, incl...
Source: Health Affairs Blog - Category: Health Management Authors: Tags: Featured Health Professionals Population Health Public Health Quality American Medical Association EHR Physician Burnout physician turnover physician well-being Quadruple Aim Source Type: blogs