Physician burnout is widely recognized as an urgent issue for the medical profession and according to the 2019 report released by Medscape, 44% of physicians studied reported feeling burned out. Doctors are spending so much energy worrying about the health of their patients, often times their own issues go unresolved. Consequently, physician incidences of medical burnout are increasing at an alarming rate
As a result of physician burnout, physicians who suffer are more disposed to errors, provide less quality of care and receive lower patient satisfaction. This can also lead to higher rates of depression, alcoholism and even suicide.
What Is Burnout?
Physician burnout has been defined as long-term, unresolvable job stress that leads to exhaustion and feeling overwhelmed, cynical, detached from the job, and lacking a sense of personal accomplishment. Does this sound like you? This begins when you are not able to recharge your batteries between call nights or days in the office.
Things You Can Do To Prevent This In Your Medical Career
- Consider starting your day with some quiet time, meditation or reading.
- Take a daily “thank you walk”. According to Jon Gordon “You can’t be stressed and thankful at the same time.”
- Remember to exercise, eat right and get plenty of sleep. You know practice what you preach.
- Take a break from technology. Turn off your smartphone! Don’t open your email and get out of the office for a quick break if you can!
- Consider journaling!
- Try to rediscover the joy of practicing medicine.
- Find a way to recharge!
How Locums Can Help!
Taking on a locums assignment can remove some of the stressors practicing medicine. Looking for a change of scenery? Locums will give you that. Want to travel and see the country? It can give you that as well. Some physicians have said doing locums work feels like a working vacation.
Why Us?
Because we LOVE what we do! As a small, Veteran-owned, family-oriented team, we start every day with gratitude and would love to share this with you! We are a team on a mission to make a positive difference in the lives of our clients and providers.
Please contact us today!