Burnout among all physicians
Burnout in healthcare workers. Forty-seven percent of physicians feeling burned out last year. This is up from a rate of 42 percent in 2020. Published in January 21, 2022 in Medscape’s 2021 “Physician Burnout & Depression Report“. Medscape surveyed 13,069 physicians in 29 specialties from June 29 to Sept. 26, 2021, with the pandemic still underway. In the report Forty-seven percent of physicians had no workplace programs to reduce stress or burnout. This survey showed significant, harmful rates of burnout and depression. In addition, suicidal ideations were reported in thirteen percent of physicians.
Stress and Burnout in healthcare workers: Burnout in primary care physicians
A recent cost analysis determined that turnover of primary care physicians leads to nearly $1 billion in annual excess healthcare spending. One third of these costs was about work-related burnout. American Medical Association in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, published the study on Feb 22, 2022 by the
Stress and Burnout in healthcare workers: Burnout in Nurses
Burnt out nurse practitioner – overworked, with headache, stressed, holding head against window glass, standing in isolated hospital hall, corridor.
Forty-six percent of surveyed nurses younger than 35 years old said they are not emotionally healthy. Sixty-six percent of nurses reported feeling anxious. Moreover, fifty-five percent of nurses surveyed are considering leaving their jobs. They released these worrisome findings on March 1, 2022. This survey of 12,694 nurses between Jan. 8 and 29, was conducted by The American Nurses Foundation and Joslin Insight.
Healthcare experts make recommendations to prevent burnout.
Burnout is a threat not only to workers, but also to the quality of healthcare. A group of healthcare experts, in collaboration with the National Academy of Medicine released a report in February 2022. They outline five actions that healthcare leaders can take to support the emotional, psychological, and on-the-job demands for nurses, physicians, and other employees. These include:
- Involve leaders across the organization in clinician well-being efforts
- Build organizational will to make clinician well-being a priority
- Develop, communicate, and coordinate a shared focus on improving patient care across the organization
- Use data to continuously improve the clinical work and learning environments
- Create sustainable solutions addressing factors driving burnout
Burnout is prevalent among healthcare workers, affecting both physicians and nurses. Specific changes in heathcare organizations will be required to prevent further deterioration of workers.
