5 Tips for Avoiding Physician Burnout
With ever-demanding schedules, patient pressures, and increasing administrative duties, it’s no wonder that nearly half of physicians report experiencing at least one symptom of exhaustion or significant dissatisfaction. As a physician, it is important to understand the signs and statistics of burnout. It’s also critical to learn prevention and coping techniques that offer relief from the downward spiral that can lead to burnout.
SIGNS OF PHYSICIAN BURNOUT
Understanding the signs of burnout (vs. simple stress or being tired) offers a critical view of those who might be facing burnout. One of the most telling differences between simple work stress and physician burnout is the ability to recover between shifts.
Read More: Are You an Engaged Physician? 3 Tips to Boost Your Engagement Level
Three critical signs of physician burnout:
Exhaustion. Not just physical, but continued mental and emotional exhaustion are a sign of burnout. If you’re absolutely drained after a day at the office or seeing patients, and your energy levels continue to spiral down, you may be suffering from physician burnout.
Reduced Accomplishments and Passion. At this point you begin to wonder why you chose this career and if you are even helping anyone. You may begin doubting the quality of care given to your patients.
Depersonalization. Cynicism, sarcasm, and patient blaming along with a negative attitude may be a sign that you are burned out. This is sometimes referred to as “compassion fatigue” and means that your stores are used up without being refilled while you are not at work. If you find yourself complaining to your colleagues about patients and feel put out by having to care for them, you may be experiencing burnout.
STATISTICS FOR BURNOUT
Understanding the prevalence of physician burnout may be helped by these statistics:
Burnout in physicians is more pervasive than in other fields of employment. One of the first national studies on physician burnout across all specialties was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 2012, citing that the overall rate of burnout among physicians was 38 percent. This compares to 28 percent of workers in other industries.
Burnout is growing. In 2017 Medscape reported that 51 percent of physicians reporting “frequent or constant feelings of burnout” in comparison with 40 percent of the same in 2013.
Work/Life balance is decreasing. Mayo Clinic reported findings from a study that only 41 percent of physicians had satisfactory work-life balance in 2014, compared to 48.5 percent of the same in 2011.
Specialties affect burnout. The specialties reporting the highest burnout rates were:
Emergency Medicine, 59 percent
OB/GYN, 56 percent
Family Medicine, 55 percent
Internal Medicine, 55 percent
Infectious Disease, 55 percent
5 WAYS TO COPE AND PREVENT BURNOUT
Physician burnout is complicated and often acts as a slippery slope. Restoring balance and health to your life happens slowly, through small steps such as:
1. Mindfulness
One of the feelings that can overwhelm physicians (and all humans) is that overwhelming sense of being out of control. Being mindful of the moment allows you to reset your parameters and expectations. Even just a few minutes to concentrate on breathing and being in the moment can have a restoring effect on your brain and emotions.
2. Lower Stress in the Workplace
Sometimes stress is unavoidable, but other times it is created. Becoming more organized can play a key role in reducing the amount of energy that it takes for you to practice medicine. Look for ways to leverage the strengths of your team, change workflow processes, perform certain tasks, or redesign systems in order to create a healthier workplace.
3. Stay Healthy
Take all of that advice you give to your patients and apply it to yourself. Eat right, exercise, get the emotional support you need. And don’t forget to see a doctor yourself. Especially if stress is taking its toll on you physically, placing yourself under the care of a doctor will offer you a pathway to recovery and medical intervention if needed.
4. Get Support
If you don’t have a built-in support structure with your family and friends, seek to find one. A local physician’s support group, a professional counselor, or a life coach may be the answer to providing you with balance and relieving some of the negative pressure.
5. Remember What You Love
You became a doctor for a reason, so take a moment at the beginning and end of each day to remember why. Consider what you love about your career and the ways that you are helping people. Write it down in a journal as a reminder.
WORK-LIFE BALANCE THROUGH ASCS
Performing surgery at a hospital can bring with it a whole host of stresses and problems related to scheduling and practice management. Many surgeons are learning to reclaim their lives by moving their surgeries to ambulatory surgery centers that offer more convenience related to scheduling, location, and support staff. If you’re considering the use of a Winter Park surgery center, contact the Surgery Center of Winter Park to schedule a tour.
