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

Breaking the burnout: How health care leaders can support physician well-being

Jennifer Shaer, MD
Physician
February 1, 2023
18 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

Recently I was scrolling through posts from a physician leadership Facebook group. I came upon one that caught my eye. It said something like, “Does anyone have information I can share with my radiologists to show them the impact of working through lunch?”

I was happy to see a post that focused on physician well-being. A leader who cares enough and wants her physicians to take a break. And then it occurred to me. Maybe there is a better question this leader could be asking. Maybe the deeper question is, “Why do my doctors feel they don’t have time to eat lunch?” Most people know that a lunch break is a good idea. But when you feel like your house is on fire, it’s hard to stop for nourishment.

It’s inspiring to see the increasing focus on well-being in health care. But what’s the best approach? Sometimes I think of us as frogs in the proverbial pot of water that is slowly heating up. What are our options? We either jump out of the pot, develop thicker skin to manage the heat, or lower the heat. This analogy doesn’t exactly hold up because I think the goal of the pot is to make the frog into a soup, and in that case, as frog advocates we would encourage the frog to hop out. Our mission in health care is too important to abandon the pot. But how do we achieve it without killing ourselves? If we all jump out, the consequences are massive. The recent nurse’s strike in NYC was an example of that. I don’t know the details of the strike, but the nurses were essentially demanding the flame be turned down before they hopped back in the pot.

What we need is a two-pronged approach to supporting well-being in health care.

1. To health care leaders: Make well-being a priority.   In 2022, the Surgeon General gave an advisory addressing health worker burnout.   The report calls for systemic change and calls on health care organizations, insurers, government, tech companies, and accreditation boards to remove administrative burdens and barriers with the goal of supporting all health care workers.

Put this report into action. You cannot squeeze your physicians any harder. We are used to pushing ourselves hard, but soon we will break. It’s time for every organization to take wellness seriously. Hire a chief wellness officer and adopt the quadruple aim. Ensure that the well-being of your clinicians and other employees is equally important to that of quality, data, and operations in your company’s success. Your doctors are mission-driven and will work more efficiently when you put systems in place that support us instead of bogging us down. Remove our obstacles and see what we can do for you. In reality, thriving physicians lead to a thriving company with improved retention and patient outcomes.

2. To the physicians: Don’t lose hope. Advocate for yourself and protect yourself. Physicians sometimes criticize the focus on self-care and point to the system as the only problem. Fix the system, and we’ll all be just fine. I’ve heard the argument that focusing on self-care is like taking Tylenol when someone hits you with a hammer. If you could stop the pounding,  you wouldn’t need Tylenol.   That may be true. However, whether or not meaningful change is coming is not really in our day-to-day control. As physicians, we should absolutely demand and fight for the changes that are needed in health care, but the wheels of change move slowly. So since we can’t fully move out of the way of the hammer pounding on our heads right now, I recommend putting on a helmet so you can continue to work while the wheels of change slowly lessen the pounding we are receiving. That helmet includes a set of skills that will be useful in all aspects of life  (practice mindfulness,  build resilience, focus on purpose and power, set boundaries, and take lunch!). If you want to continue practicing medicine in this environment,  develop these skills. They will help improve your well-being.   But don’t be afraid to get out if things become too much for you. Making a change is not a failure on your part. It is brave. There is no shame in doing what is best for you.

The optimist in me believes that we are progressing on both of these fronts. We have a long way to go, but our mission in health care is too great for us to give up.

Jennifer Shaer is a pediatrician and chief wellness officer, Allied Physicians Group, and a certified executive and life coach. She is founder, Shaer Coaching, and can be reached on Facebook. She is available for one-on-one coaching and speaking engagements: Feel free to schedule a conversation with Dr. Shaer or reach out by email.

Prev

Cream Puff Days: Coping with grief and finding comfort

February 1, 2023 Kevin 0
…
Next

The short-term rental tax loophole: a game-changer for physicians

February 1, 2023 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: Hospital-Based Medicine, Practice Management

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Cream Puff Days: Coping with grief and finding comfort
Next Post >
The short-term rental tax loophole: a game-changer for physicians

More by Jennifer Shaer, MD

  • Why your intuition is key to better physical and emotional health

    Jennifer Shaer, MD
  • Are pediatricians too nice?

    Jennifer Shaer, MD
  • The holidays can open up a range of emotions

    Jennifer Shaer, MD

Related Posts

  • How social media can help or hurt your health care career

    Health eCareers
  • Health care needs more physician CEOs

    Alexi Nazem, MD
  • Emotional support animals for health care providers

    Brittany Ladson
  • The health care system will cause its own physician shortage

    Advait Suvarnakar and Aashka Suvarnakar
  • The triad of health care: patient, nurse, physician

    Michele Luckenbaugh
  • How non-physician practitioners are pawns of large health care organizations

    Tom Belanger, MD

More in Physician

  • Tom Brady’s legacy and the importance of personal integrity in end-of-life choices

    Kevin Haselhorst, MD
  • The hidden truths of hospital life: What doctors wish you knew

    Emily Stanford, DO
  • The heart of a Desi doctor: Balancing emotions and resources in oncology

    Dr. Damane Zehra
  • The Iranian diaspora’s fight for liberty: Overcoming challenges in the largest women’s rights movement of our century

    Montreh Tavakkoli, MD
  • The harmful effects of shaming patients for self-education

    Maryanna Barrett, MD
  • The power of self-appreciation: Why physicians need to start acknowledging their own contributions

    Wendy Schofer, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • It’s time for C-suite to contract directly with physicians for part-time work

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Corinne Sundar Rao, MD | Physician
    • What is driving physicians to the edge of despair?

      Edward T. Creagan, MD | Physician
    • The untold struggles patients face with resident doctors

      Denise Reich | Conditions
    • The psychoanalytic hammer: lessons in listening and patient-centered care

      Greg Smith, MD | Conditions
    • From clocking in to clocking out: the transition to retirement

      Debbie Moore-Black, RN | Conditions
    • Revolutionizing COPD management with virtual care solutions [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • The fight for reproductive health: Why medication abortion matters

      Catherine Hennessey, MD | Physician
    • The vital importance of climate change education in medical schools

      Helen Kim, MD | Policy
    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • It’s time for C-suite to contract directly with physicians for part-time work

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Corinne Sundar Rao, MD | Physician
    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • From clocking in to clocking out: the transition to retirement

      Debbie Moore-Black, RN | Conditions
    • Breaking free from a toxic relationship with medicine [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Tom Brady’s legacy and the importance of personal integrity in end-of-life choices

      Kevin Haselhorst, MD | Physician
    • The hidden truths of hospital life: What doctors wish you knew

      Emily Stanford, DO | Physician
    • 10 commandments of ethical affiliate marketing for physicians

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Amy Bissada, DO | Finance
    • The heart of a Desi doctor: Balancing emotions and resources in oncology

      Dr. Damane Zehra | 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 2 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

  • Journal Shows Its Commitment to Exploring AI in Medicine
  • Do Away With 'Lockout' Period in iPLEDGE, FDA Advisors Urge
  • Cluster Headache, Migraine Linked to Circadian System
  • Smaller Liver Transplant Candidates Wait Longer, Less Likely to Receive Organ
  • A 'Double Whammy' for Gastric Cancer Risk

Meeting Coverage

  • Oral Roflumilast Effective in the Treatment of Plaque Psoriasis
  • Phase III Trials 'Hit a Home Run' in Advanced Endometrial Cancer
  • Cannabis Use Common in Post-Surgery Patients on Opioid Tapering
  • Less Abuse With Extended-Release Oxycodone, Poison Center Data Suggest
  • Novel Strategies Show Winning Potential in Ovarian Cancer
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • It’s time for C-suite to contract directly with physicians for part-time work

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Corinne Sundar Rao, MD | Physician
    • What is driving physicians to the edge of despair?

      Edward T. Creagan, MD | Physician
    • The untold struggles patients face with resident doctors

      Denise Reich | Conditions
    • The psychoanalytic hammer: lessons in listening and patient-centered care

      Greg Smith, MD | Conditions
    • From clocking in to clocking out: the transition to retirement

      Debbie Moore-Black, RN | Conditions
    • Revolutionizing COPD management with virtual care solutions [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • The fight for reproductive health: Why medication abortion matters

      Catherine Hennessey, MD | Physician
    • The vital importance of climate change education in medical schools

      Helen Kim, MD | Policy
    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • It’s time for C-suite to contract directly with physicians for part-time work

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Corinne Sundar Rao, MD | Physician
    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • From clocking in to clocking out: the transition to retirement

      Debbie Moore-Black, RN | Conditions
    • Breaking free from a toxic relationship with medicine [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Tom Brady’s legacy and the importance of personal integrity in end-of-life choices

      Kevin Haselhorst, MD | Physician
    • The hidden truths of hospital life: What doctors wish you knew

      Emily Stanford, DO | Physician
    • 10 commandments of ethical affiliate marketing for physicians

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Amy Bissada, DO | Finance
    • The heart of a Desi doctor: Balancing emotions and resources in oncology

      Dr. Damane Zehra | Physician

MedPage Today Professional

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

Breaking the burnout: How health care leaders can support physician well-being
2 comments

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

Loading Comments...