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“Physician burnout is threatening the foundation of the US medical healthcare system." according to 2010 report printed in the Journal of the American Medical Association and quoted on the respected website Medscape.
Who It Affects
Almost half of all physicians report problems with burnout according to a national study, a rate that is much higher than those working in other areas.
Over 40% of all doctors reported that they currently suffer from it or have in the past. Sadly, over 45% of physicians in primary care stated they would quit medicine if they could afford it.
Symptoms of Burnout
The most severe symptoms of burnout are substance abuse, depression, and suicide. Even doctors who describe their state as one of dissatisfaction, not burnout, reported experiencing loss of enthusiasm, cynicism, and feelings of low accomplishment.
Physicians suffering from burnout described themselves as more worried about their health. They were more likely to be overweight.
Whether reporting dissatisfaction or burnout, these doctors were concerned with their poor balance of work and life, reduced productivity, moodiness, and anger.
Range of Causes
There is a range of causes. Among the many reported are:
- Loss of autonomy
- Too much paperwork and bureaucracy instead of the practice of medicine
- Threat of litigation
- Difficulties balancing work life and personal life
- Excessive workload
The last two often head the list of causes and are closely related. Physicians report feeling they have no control over their time, and are at the mercy of their schedules and constant workload. They can’t schedule enough family time, resulting in angry spouses, frustrated children, and their own guilt for letting them down.
Currently many hospital and emergency room scheduling is based on a seven-day-on and seven-day-off plan. For management of physician scheduling it makes sense. When trying to cover a department 24/7/365, scheduling a week at a time is a timesaver.
However, it can cause frustration and overwork among the doctors that are being scheduled. They complain that they have no personal life during their week on. Many feel it reduces the quality of care they can deliver to patients.
Help with Effective Shift Scheduling
In the area of scheduling and control of their time, hospitalist scheduling software can help remedy the problem.
Schedulers can easily incorporate the specific needs of each physician. The software takes the customized requirements of each doctor into account when calculating schedules, including emergency medicine scheduling. Last minute changes can be handled in a matter of minutes.
Doctors feel more in control because their family and personal needs are programmed right into the scheduling process. Since it is easy to contact the scheduler for changes, frustration is reduced.
What’s more, physicians can access their schedules anywhere, at any time via the internet. If they need to report in sick, set vacation plans or request time off, communicating is simple.
Here is a look at some of the positive benefits of using scheduling software:
- High job satisfaction
- Fairer and more equitable schedules
- Better productivity
- Less frustration among doctors when trying to schedule their time off
- Better rested physicians
- Better patient care
Physicians feel more in command of their time, able to schedule events in their personal life with confidence — and with less burnout experienced.
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