Physician burnout is a common and serious problem. In a 2017 survey of >14,000 US physicians across 27 specialties, 42% reported burnout,1 which typically is defined as a long-term stress reaction marked by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a lack of sense of personal accomplishment.2
Creating a focused, yet comfortable professional life is essential for preventing burnout. For our patients’ sake and for our own personal fulfillment, there is much we can do to maintain a healthy professional and home life balance. This article describes the factors that contribute to physician burnout, and outlines steps you can take to improve your work/life balance.
The multifactorial roots of stress
Many physicians frequently blend their professional and personal lives. Most are absorbed in their practices, which leaves limited time for family interactions, daily life, or wellness.
Work hours are often long, and schedules are filled with obligations. In recent years, changes to medical practice have resulted in many additional responsibilities for physicians, such as administrative tasks and adapting to electronic health care, particularly to the use of electronic health records (EHRs). This has escalated workload and worries while diminishing patient interaction, creating more distant clinical relationships and providing less financial remuneration. Monetary pressures to see more patients limit the quality of care. Overload often forces physicians to stay at work late and/or labor excessive hours at home with less family interaction. The introduction of EHRs escalated this trend, while detracting from a healthy family, personal, and professional life. Addressing cumbersome documentation requirements while striving to maintain contact with patients is frustrating.3
Physician job dissatisfaction has worsened over time. Burnout escalates errors, diminishes patient rapport and safety, and produces suboptimal outcomes, all resulting in declining professional satisfaction.
Improving your work/life balance
The following strategies can help you make changes to better balance your professional and personal lives.
Assess priorities and goals. Before taking steps to achieve an optimal work-home balance, first review medical, spousal, and parental expectations. Social support is key.
Continue to: Identify stressors