Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

To our leaders: Is physician burnout your fault?

Clarissa Barnes, MD
Physician
December 26, 2019
795 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

Burnout and moral injury are terms that litter the landscape of ongoing research and debate about what is happening with American Physicians.  With increasing awareness and acknowledgment, there is an increasing number of leaders and health care organizations willing to attempt a solution.  However, while there is utility and looking below you to the physicians you lead and to the organization around you, you also need to be looking inward to identify how your leadership style may be contributing.  Some questions to ask yourself:

Do you give your physicians positive feedback when things go well and actionable steps when they are not?

Despite protestations to the contrary, people (that includes physicians!) like knowing they’re doing a good job.  As medicine becomes more regulated and there is increasing tracking of quality, safety, and productivity data, it actually becomes increasingly difficult to tell if a physician is doing well.  If your physician does something particularly well, a hand-written note can go a long way to reminding him/her of the reason for entering this profession.  If your physician has room for improvement, do not just leave data in an envelope in the mail.  If the area for growth is something you can help with, then give constructive feedback.  If it isn’t something you can help with, then help find someone in the organization who can help.  Few things are more demoralizing than no acknowledgment of what is being done well, followed by mounds of data that points out things that could be done better but with no idea how to make any changes.

Do you view physicians as people, or are they “cogs” in your business wheel?

Somethings to consider, do you know if your physicians are married or have children?  Do you know if they’re under extra stress because of a recent family death?  Do you know what their ultimate career goals look like?  Sometimes it is so easy to get caught up in the work that we forget who we are working with.  However, real leadership requires you not just to check the boxes of tasks to accomplish but to connect with people.  You may be able to manage cogs, but you’ll never be able to lead them.

When you have to give physicians new work due to new governmental regulations, changes in organizational rules, etc., are you also considering the increase in total work and looking for ways to remove work at the same time? 

Adding one more thing doesn’t look like much at the time, but even the smallest grain of sand becomes an immovable mountain if you add one more every day over time.  It may not be possible to always trade one added thing for one thing removed, but the removal of tasks (or improvement in workflow efficiency) is essential to always be on your radar.  Don’t wait until your physicians are crushed, but the mountain, be proactive in finding out what tasks they think could be moved or reworked.

Do you promote and support physicians in a public way?

Culture is changing, and the public perception of what physicians are has shifted.  Due to obvious reasons, physicians do not really have the ability to explain to their patients and prospective patients when they have done a great job.  Could you identify a great patient comment and post it (in a HIPAA compliant way) on your clinic’s social media page?  Could you advertise their research or talks they’ve given at meetings in the local paper?  The options are endless, but physicians are in dire need of good PR, especially given how quickly the story of one un-ethical physician spreads from coast-to-coast.

Do you value and respect physicians’ opinions?

If one of your physicians wants to tell you about a paper detailing success with an alternative model that might work for your clinic, do you listen or automatically try to shut the idea down because you have other plans?  You will not be able to implement every idea a physician brings you.  Some of them may be terrible!  However, listening gains you two advantages.  You may very well get some great ideas from the people on the frontlines taking care of patients.  Even if the idea is not great, listening and considering demonstrates respect and collaboration, which improves job satisfaction.

Physician leaders, do you remember the hard days of your clinical practice?

The bar for you is higher.  As you interact with other health care leaders, do not forget that you have a unique perspective not only on patient care but on the actual people delivering that care.  If you have forgotten the stress of trying to see a busy clinic while also getting your documentation done, the harried feeling of trying to manage a full inpatient service while fielding nursing calls and family requests, or the pain of standing on your feet all day for a difficult surgical case, then it may benefit you to get back into the clinical environment in some way to remind yourself.  If you are still practicing, maybe pick up an extra shift.  If you are not, you can make arrangements to shadow.  Great physician leaders tend to be bridges between administration and clinicians, which may require you to re-immerse yourself periodically.

No one said great leadership is easy.  In fact, in the changing health care landscape of shrinking margins and increasing concerns for quality and patient satisfaction, health care leadership is increasingly difficult.  As physician burnout, physician suicide, and physician shortages continue to plague this country, great leadership is going to be required to turn the tide.  If you want to be one of those great leaders, then you need to make sure you’re asking yourself tough questions about your own leadership style.

Clarissa Barnes is an internal medicine physician.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

Physicians have to inspire their patients

December 25, 2019 Kevin 1
…
Next

KevinMD's top posts of 2019

December 26, 2019 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: Practice Management

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Physicians have to inspire their patients
Next Post >
KevinMD's top posts of 2019

More by Clarissa Barnes, MD

  • To my health care colleagues in South Dakota

    Clarissa Barnes, MD
  • Physician suicide awareness: glimmers of hope for the future

    Clarissa Barnes, MD
  • COVID-19 is a war on two fronts

    Clarissa Barnes, MD

Related Posts

  • Chasing numbers contributes to physician burnout

    DrizzleMD
  • A physician’s addiction to social media

    Amanda Xi, MD
  • When physician leaders get acquired and squeezed

    Anonymous
  • Physician burnout is as much a legal problem as it is a medical one

    Sharona Hoffman, JD
  • Despite physician burnout, medical schools are still hard to get into. Why is that?

    Suneel Dhand, MD
  • Physician Suicide Awareness Day: Where are the patients? 

    Jennifer M. Sweeney

More in Physician

  • Why allowing yourself to embrace discomfort is necessary for personal growth

    Jillian Rigert, MD, DMD
  • Unconventional health care, flawed studies, and biases: Navigating the complexities for optimal well-being

    Kara Wada, MD
  • Finding your ideal work-life balance: tips for prioritizing personal life and achieving professional success

    Zahid Awan, MD
  • Boxing legends Tyson and Foreman: powerful lessons for a resilient and evolving health care future

    Harvey Castro, MD, MBA
  • 7 ways to beat burnout: a guide for health care professionals to reduce stress and reclaim their passion

    Marie Livesey, DO
  • Heartwarming stories of cancer patients teaching us about life and the human spirit

    Johnathan Yao, MD, MPH
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The power of coaching for physicians: transforming thoughts, changing lives

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
    • The hidden factor in physician burnout: How the climate crisis is contributing to the erosion of well-being

      Elizabeth Cerceo, MD | Physician
    • Why affirmative action is crucial for health equity and social justice in medicine

      Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH | Policy
    • Unlocking the secrets of cancer conferences: an end-of-life counselor’s journey among pharmaceutical giants

      Althea Halchuck, EJD | Conditions
    • Why doctors aren’t to blame for the U.S. opioid crisis [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Nose-brain connection: The surprising link between allergies and mental health revealed

      Kara Wada, MD | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • It’s time to replace the 0 to 10 pain intensity scale with a better measure

      Mark Sullivan, MD and Jane Ballantyne, MD | Conditions
    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • Breaking point: the 5 reasons American doctors are dreaming of walking away from medicine

      Amol Shrikhande, MD | Physician
    • Revolutionize your practice: the value-based care model that reduces physician burnout

      Chandravadan Patel, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling the hidden damage: the secretive world of medical boards

      Alan Lindemann, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
  • Recent Posts

    • Why allowing yourself to embrace discomfort is necessary for personal growth

      Jillian Rigert, MD, DMD | Physician
    • Unconventional health care, flawed studies, and biases: Navigating the complexities for optimal well-being

      Kara Wada, MD | Physician
    • Urgent innovation needed to address growing mental health crisis among children and families

      Monika Roots, MD | Conditions
    • The importance of listening in health care: a mother’s journey advocating for children with chronic Lyme disease

      Cheryl Lazarus | Conditions
    • Medical errors and the power of apologies [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Finding your ideal work-life balance: tips for prioritizing personal life and achieving professional success

      Zahid Awan, MD | Physician

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 6 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • FDA Warns on Certain Forms of Compounded Semaglutide
  • Fired COVID Whistleblower Doesn't Want to Settle His Case
  • Video of ACOG Presenter Being Slapped Goes Viral
  • Bed Bug Anaphylaxis; Heart Block Relationships; What's It Like to Date a Nurse?
  • TAR-200 Led to High Complete Response Rates in BCG-Unresponsive Bladder Cancer

Meeting Coverage

  • TAR-200 Led to High Complete Response Rates in BCG-Unresponsive Bladder Cancer
  • More Success for CAR T-Cell Therapy in Rheumatic Disease
  • Trial Shows RA Can Be Stopped at Preclinical Stage
  • Tenapanor Improves Abdominal Symptoms in Patients With IBS-C
  • Benefits Found for Hand OA Drug Treatments
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The power of coaching for physicians: transforming thoughts, changing lives

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
    • The hidden factor in physician burnout: How the climate crisis is contributing to the erosion of well-being

      Elizabeth Cerceo, MD | Physician
    • Why affirmative action is crucial for health equity and social justice in medicine

      Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH | Policy
    • Unlocking the secrets of cancer conferences: an end-of-life counselor’s journey among pharmaceutical giants

      Althea Halchuck, EJD | Conditions
    • Why doctors aren’t to blame for the U.S. opioid crisis [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Nose-brain connection: The surprising link between allergies and mental health revealed

      Kara Wada, MD | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • It’s time to replace the 0 to 10 pain intensity scale with a better measure

      Mark Sullivan, MD and Jane Ballantyne, MD | Conditions
    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • Breaking point: the 5 reasons American doctors are dreaming of walking away from medicine

      Amol Shrikhande, MD | Physician
    • Revolutionize your practice: the value-based care model that reduces physician burnout

      Chandravadan Patel, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling the hidden damage: the secretive world of medical boards

      Alan Lindemann, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
  • Recent Posts

    • Why allowing yourself to embrace discomfort is necessary for personal growth

      Jillian Rigert, MD, DMD | Physician
    • Unconventional health care, flawed studies, and biases: Navigating the complexities for optimal well-being

      Kara Wada, MD | Physician
    • Urgent innovation needed to address growing mental health crisis among children and families

      Monika Roots, MD | Conditions
    • The importance of listening in health care: a mother’s journey advocating for children with chronic Lyme disease

      Cheryl Lazarus | Conditions
    • Medical errors and the power of apologies [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Finding your ideal work-life balance: tips for prioritizing personal life and achieving professional success

      Zahid Awan, MD | Physician

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

To our leaders: Is physician burnout your fault?
6 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...