While working hard in med school and throughout your residency, you probably knew being a medical professional would be a challenge—but did you ever think you’d be completely fatigued?
If you’ve been feeling like you’re treading water at work, trying to keep your head above water, you’re like many other physicians in the U.S. Over half - 63% of doctors reported feeling burnout at least once a week.
What’s Causing Physician Burnout?
Burnout is a significant concern. The American Medical Association found that 40% of the physicians they surveyed were interested in leaving their jobs. The timing of this burnout is even more concerning. The AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) projects a shortage of 86,000 doctors in the US by 2036.
Significant changes in the healthcare industry are needed if we want to encourage future physicians and help those already practicing.
Understanding the underlying causes of burnout is crucial for addressing it effectively.
Loss of Autonomy
Physicians are trained to make critical decisions based on their expertise and patient needs. However, increasing administrative burdens and bureaucratic constraints often limit their autonomy in clinical decision-making, leading to frustration.
Documentation and Administrative Burden
The extensive paperwork, electronic health record (EHR) entries, and administrative tasks consume a significant portion of physicians' time.
If your day feels like a revolving door of phone calls, notes, and short but frequent patient visits, this might contribute to feelings of fatigue.
Time Constraints
Physicians often face pressure to see a high volume of patients within limited time frames. This can result in rushed appointments and compromise the quality of care delivered. Additionally, long working hours and on-call schedules further exacerbate the issue, leading to physical and emotional exhaustion.
Chaotic Work Environments
High patient volumes, staffing shortages, and resource limitations create chaotic work environments for physicians.
Consistently being asked to do more work with less time no doubt increases stress and contributes to fatigue.
Reducing Physician Burnout
If we know the roots of physician burnout, how do we address the problem?
There are some effective ways for medical professionals to prioritize their well-being and regain control over their professional and personal lives:
Prioritize a Healthy Lifestyle
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is fundamental to managing stress and preventing burnout. This includes regular exercise, proper nutrition, stress management, and adequate sleep.
Related Post: Why Do Doctors Switch to Concierge Medicine?
Through their partnership with Castle Connolly Private Health (CCPHP), physicians can access the SENS Solution® Wellness Program. Both doctors and their patients have access to personal health coaching, exclusive blogs, newsletters, recipes, webinars, and affinity partnerships.
Regaining Autonomy
Independence in clinical decision-making could be the first step in restoring job satisfaction among physicians. Seek healthcare organizations that empower physicians to practice medicine according to their expertise and patient needs.
Related Post: Prevent Physician Burnout and Put Heart into Your Practice
Each physician who partners with CCPHP maintains independence and autonomy, allowing them to make the best decisions for their patients and practice. Through a concierge model, physicians can establish strong patient relationships, experience practice revenue growth, and reduce costs.
Work-Life Balance
Taking regular breaks, scheduling time off, and setting boundaries to protect personal time are essential for preventing fatigue and maintaining work-life balance.
"I have been practicing medicine for more than 25 years and always loved being a physician. However, the changes in the healthcare system were not allowing me to practice medicine in a fulfilling way. Therefore I made the decision to partner with Castle Connolly to become a concierge physician. My experience with them has been really great. I am now able to spend more time with my patients and have a better work-life balance."
- Dr. Sandra Gilban
We understand that physicians working within the standard healthcare model may not always be feasible. However, our concierge model aims to solve this problem by allowing physicians to have smaller patient panels, greater independence, and reduced administrative workloads, allowing them to return to the original reasons they wanted to practice medicine.
Are You Interested in Converting Your Practice?
Many physicians partner with CCPHP to gain autonomy, restore work-life balance, and restore their passion for practicing medicine.
If you’re interested in talking with a CCPHP representative, fill out the form below and learn more about reducing physician burnout.
