On Tuesday, March 17, Dr. Michael Privitera from the University of Rochester Medical Center spoke to Pandion Healthcare: Education and Advocacy’s Medical Directors Committee about the rise of burnout in the healthcare community.
In addition to his role as Medical Director of the Medical Faculty and Clinician Wellness Program at URMC, Privitera is the chair of a task force on physician stress and burnout for the Medical Society of New York State (MSSNY).
According to the numbers, 54% of medical doctors in the U.S. have experienced significant burnout. This nationwide trend is a threat to the entire healthcare system. In fact, the rate of burnout experienced by medical doctors continues to rise even when it remains constant within the general population.
A 2016 survey administered by MSSNY indicates the top work-related stressors for physicians in New York State include:
- Length and degree of documentation requirements
- Extension of workplace into home life
- Prior authorizations for medications, procedures, and admissions
- Dealing with difficult patients
- EMP functionality problems
The impact of medical burnout is widespread and costly to the entire system This includes higher rates of suicide, depression, and divorce among physicians, increased disability costs to the system, turnover costs attributed to work stress, and reduced empathy for patients which leads to decreased patient satisfaction and reduced patient adherence to treatments.
To help alleviate the situation, Dr. Privitera suggests several strategies at the individual and organizational levels. These strategies include creating boundaries between work and home despite technology, the need for individual and institutional interventions, effective involvement by leadership, and stronger administrator/physician partnerships.
Pandion will continue to support education and discussion around physician and clinician burnout. This issue has a far-reaching effect on all of us, professionals and patients, as participants in the system of healthcare.
Our 2018 Healthcare Innovations Conference will feature a segment on physician burnout which you will not want to miss. Please plan to check back for related events in the coming months.