Working in the healthcare industry can be demanding and fast-paced. As a result, healthcare providers may experience elevated stress levels and burnout. In fact, studies show that healthcare professionals are more likely to experience burnout than professionals in other industries.
According to a recent article sponsored by Mayo Clinic and the AMA, burnout is nearly twice as prevalent among physicians compared to U.S. workers in other fields.
Burnout can decrease job satisfaction, influence poor patient outcomes, and increase healthcare costs. Supporting these claims, a 2022 study by The British Medical Journal (BMJ) stated that physician burnout is associated with a reduction in care quality. Altogether, the study found that healthcare professionals’ burnout can lead to unsafe patient care and career disengagement.
It is not only important but imperative to address mental health issues and burnout within your medical staff and to improve employee experience to provide the best care for your patients.
Recognize the signs of burnout
The first step in addressing burnout is to recognize the signs. Some signs may include:
- Emotional exhaustion
- Depersonalization
- Decreased job satisfaction
- Reduced productivity
- Difficulty sleeping
- Increased irritability or mood swings.
If you notice any of these signs in your medical staff, it is important to address the issue.
While the root causes of burnout are complex, increasing workload and financial strain are primary contributors. Therefore, addressing these leading causes is essential to help relieve the administrative burden on physicians and empower them to get back to what they love: helping patients.
Create a supportive work environment
Creating a supportive work environment is essential for preventing burnout and supporting mental health.
This can include:
- Encouraging work-life balance
- Providing opportunities for professional development and training
- Recognizing and rewarding quality work
- Creating an environment of open communication and feedback
- Offering mental health resources and support
According to the medical journal Health; mental health remains a taboo subject among physicians. Many healthcare professionals are reluctant to pursue treatment due to potential shame, income loss, or licensure actions.
Therefore, medical practices need to encourage physicians to treat their own mental health with the same seriousness they do their patients. Healthcare organizations are responsible for supporting physicians to seek treatment in ways that minimize these repercussions.
Some examples may include extending hours of confidential mental health services and providing coverage and time off to allow physicians to attend appointments.
Reduce workload by partnering with an expert
Healthcare organizations can look to strategic partners to help with these endeavors. Simply relieving physicians of inefficient administrative burdens or secondary tasks can be the first step to addressing and reducing burnout.
Managing the complicated administrative responsibilities of payors, varying standards, and an endless stream of government regulations all contribute to physician burnout and have created an occupational crisis in healthcare today.
At Health Prime, our holistic approach delivers on a promise to improve the well-being of physicians, patients, and healthcare practices. With the right technology and transformational partner, your administrative burden does not have to be a problem.
If you are ready to address burnout and get back to the joys of practicing medicine— feel free to reach out to us at [email protected]. Set up a meeting with us to discuss how we can help you get back to what matters the most: the health of your patients and staff.
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