You’ve probably heard the term “burnout” before. In an Oct. 2020 study published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, Stefan De Hert Burnout defines burnout as “a work-related stress syndrome resulting from chronic exposure to job stress.”
It’s no secret that careers in healthcare are both physically and emotionally demanding; whether it’s constant high stress situations or the long hours, it’s not easy day-in and day-out. And to add more stress and exhaustion to healthcare workers’ plates, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc as it has for nearly two years.
Burnout can affect anyone, in any profession, but it is proven to affect healthcare workers in an extreme way. In fact, one in three physicians is experiencing burnout at any given time.
Even back before the pandemic, over half of U.S. physicians experienced symptoms of burnout, a rate that’s nearly double that of workers in other professions, a 2018 study found (after controlling for hours worked, age, sex, etc.).
And burnout can be found everywhere.
According to Ontario’s Science Table, severe burnout in Canada was affecting 30-40% of healthcare workers in the spring of 2020. One year later in 2021, rates were >60% for physicians, nurses, etc.
In a study found in the journal Plos One, half (51.4%) of respondents from 33 countries reported emotional exhaustion burnout related to their work during the public health emergency. The study reported that the U.S. had the highest reported burnout of all 33 participating countries with a rate of 62.8%.
A total of 29 medical specialties were ranked for incidence of burnout in the 2020 Medscape National Physician Burnout and Suicide Report. The top, middle and lowest incidence can be found below.
While most studies find no gender effect in the incidence of burnout, the Medscape National Physician Report found that women physicians reported more common signs of burnout (48% female vs 37% male).
Healthcare burnout is a state of mental and physical exhaustion that affects healthcare professionals at all levels. Recognizing the specific symptoms of burnout and taking proactive steps can help mitigate its effects on both patient care and the well-being of healthcare providers. Here are key symptoms of burnout in healthcare and ways to address them:1. Exhaustion
Generally healthcare professionals work long hours that can be difficult on their physical health (and asked to work more hours since the beginning of the pandemic), but healthcare can also be a lot to deal with emotionally. When you add traumatic experiences on top of a physically demanding job, it can feel like too much.
One study found that emotional exhaustion, specifically, “may be the most critical element of burnout to address.”
Healthcare professionals aren’t the only ones to feel like a cog in the machine, but it can feel disheartening when one open hospital bed is quickly inhabited by a new sick patient, especially if leadership doesn’t recognize the great work you’ve been doing.
Like number two, this sign of burnout is devastating when you don’t feel like you are making a real difference. Leadership may be able to push a better culture where praise is given often.
Everyone can feel the burnout cycle. Sometimes you just need a break and sometimes serious actions are needed to alleviate burnout symptoms.
The burnout cycle consists of the following:
Burnout often manifests in physical symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. These physical signs may escalate if not addressed, impacting overall healthcare provider performance. Practicing regular exercise, maintaining a balanced diet, and incorporating relaxation techniques can alleviate some physical symptoms.
Over time, burnout can erode job satisfaction and motivation, leading to higher turnover rates among healthcare professionals. Implementing programs that support mental health, such as on-site counseling and wellness resources, can help foster resilience and improve job satisfaction.
Recognizing these symptoms and providing supportive measures can help healthcare organizations reduce burnout and support a healthier workforce, ultimately enhancing patient care and reducing medical errors associated with fatigue and stress.
The consequences of burnout can include decreased job satisfaction, absenteeism, turnover in personnel, etc. but the consequence most talked about is that physician burnout is linked to suboptimal patient care, resulting in lower patient satisfaction.
The thought of potential medical errors, malpractice lawsuits and added caregiver/hospital costs may be enough to jumpstart many organizations to provide resources for their healthcare workers.
Burnout is normal with the high stress situations healthcare workers are faced with every day. Acknowledgement and discussion can be the first step to a better work atmosphere. Practices that unify your staff and foster friendships such as peer-to-peer coaching sessions can help healthcare workers find solace in those around them.
Almost 40% of U.S. physicians have no workplace support to deal with grief and trauma, per a recent Medscape report.
Every healthcare worker at your practice, hospital, etc. should have readily available mental health resources. Online resources (e.g., each department’s website) could contain a list of outreach programs and contact information for anonymous psychological health support.
Training your staff to be “present” in conversations with coworkers and trainees can really make a difference in making well-being a priority across health care systems. You can stay away from common phrases like, “How are you?” and instead saying, “Tell me how you’re really doing through the pandemic?”
It’s critical to provide a safe space through active listening and following-up with individuals.
You may need to change the culture of your organization to really accomplish creating an action plan for your organization. Many work environments in the healthcare industry struggle with healthy work-life balance, which is one of the causes of burnout.
One example of how you can go about change:
The American Medical Association launched the “Joy in Medicine Recognition Program.” The program encourages leadership to improve practice, teamwork and peer support efficiency. Read more here to get ideas for your organization.
When you create a committee of people that span different departments and include physicians and advanced practice clinicians, you can get a better understanding of how your health care organization is really doing. Furthermore, those experiencing symptoms of burnout will have someone to talk to that they feel has their best interest at heart.
The Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), an official website of the Department of Health and Human Services, said, “the hope that electronic health records (EHRs) in the workplace would reduce stress has not been realized; in fact, implementation of an EHR can contribute to burnout.”
Though we do not currently have a fix for EHR annoyances, we do have a fix in helping your team without the headaches when it comes to Rivet’s software. Rivet offers patient good faith estimates, denials management and underpayments workflow tools.
Click here for additional resources to avoid or treat healthcare burnout.
Rivet offers software solutions that integrate with your EHR for up-front patient cost estimates (that align with the 2021 No Surprises Act), denials and underpayments. To see a demo and discuss billing pain points, schedule a demo with a Rivet business development representative.
1. What are the main symptoms of healthcare burnout?
The primary symptoms of healthcare burnout include emotional exhaustion, depersonalization (a sense of detachment from patients and colleagues), and a reduced sense of personal accomplishment. Burnout can also manifest in physical symptoms, such as chronic fatigue and headaches.
2. How does burnout affect patient care?
Burnout among healthcare providers can lead to decreased quality of care and more frequent medical errors. Providers experiencing burnout may feel less engaged, which can impact patient satisfaction and overall care quality.
3. What causes burnout in healthcare?
Common causes include long hours, high-stress situations, and a demanding work environment. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these factors, leading to increased levels of burnout in healthcare workers.
4. How can healthcare organizations help reduce burnout?
Healthcare organizations can reduce burnout by creating supportive work environments, providing mental health resources, and implementing wellness programs that focus on work-life balance and peer support. Establishing wellness committees can also help address the needs of healthcare professionals.
5. What is emotional exhaustion, and why is it common in healthcare?
Emotional exhaustion is a feeling of mental and physical depletion, often resulting from prolonged exposure to high-stress environments. In healthcare, the constant demands of patient care and exposure to traumatic situations make emotional exhaustion especially common.
6. Can self-care help healthcare professionals manage burnout?
Yes, self-care practices such as mindfulness, regular exercise, and taking breaks can help healthcare professionals manage stress and reduce burnout symptoms. These practices support both mental and physical well-being, essential for resilience in high-stress professions.
7. What role does leadership play in reducing healthcare burnout?
Leadership can play a significant role by promoting a culture of support and empathy. Training supervisors to recognize signs of burnout and providing resources for mental health can create a healthier work environment and reduce burnout rates.
8. How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted healthcare burnout rates?
The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified burnout among healthcare professionals due to increased workloads, emotional stress, and prolonged exposure to high-risk environments. Many healthcare workers report higher rates of burnout since the onset of the pandemic.
9. What are some long-term effects of untreated burnout?
Untreated burnout can lead to severe consequences, including chronic mental and physical health issues, decreased job satisfaction, and increased turnover in healthcare organizations. It can also impact personal relationships and overall quality of life.
10. Are there specific specialties in healthcare that experience higher rates of burnout?
Yes, specialties with high-stress levels, such as emergency medicine, primary care, and critical care, often experience higher rates of burnout. These fields involve prolonged exposure to intense patient care situations, contributing to higher levels of emotional exhaustion.
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