Fighting burnout Highlights from the U.S. Surgeon General’s warning on health worker burnout U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy, MD, addressed health worker burnout and provided solutions in his advisory on building a thriving health workforce. Nov. 1, 2022TuesdayNovember 2022 issue Burnout Jane Datinguinoo, OMS IV Student Doctor Datinguinoo attends the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Contact Student Doctor Datinguinoo
A message to future doctors My dad taught me that laughter can be the best medicine, and in many ways, how to be the doctor I am today. Now, he will teach you.
How about less administration and more time with patients?? How about not tying our pay to production?? How about not threatening us with our job loss if we don’t measure up to projected and impossible goals set by administrators who are not doctors and have no clue?? How about backing up the physicians when patient are very abusive verbally and physically?? Nov. 10, 2022, at 2:17 pm Reply
Hello Dr. DeFilippo! Yes absolutely agree. My apologies for not including these key points in this summary. In the full advisory, Dr Murthy does discuss that inefficient work processes including burdensome administrative requirements contribute to health worker burnout. To your point, he suggests optimizing technology to increase time between health workers and patients by simplifying EMR work flows and providing work schedule flexibility and autonomy. Interestingly, Dr. Murthy shares how Hawaii Pacific Health’s “Getting Rid of Stupid Stuff” program asked for employee feedback on their EMR system to eliminate unnecessary steps which resulted in 1,700 nursing hours saved per month. Regarding your discussion about job loss threats, setting impossible goals, and protecting physicians from abusive situations, Dr. Murthy advises health care organizations to use evidence-based policies, programs, and solutions to address these issues and provide safer working environments for all health workers. One of his action items explicitly states, “Establish a zero-tolerance policy for violence, and institute a workplace violence prevention program to address violence and abuse in the workplace (this includes physical, verbal, and/or cyber-based).” While I do recognize the systemic pressures that physicians face, I haven’t felt the weight on my shoulders just yet as a medical student. I truly appreciate learning how to navigate medicine from the attendings & residents. Nov. 18, 2022, at 6:00 pm Reply
Dr. DeFilippo is correct. Studies show that physicians who spend at least 20% of their time in an area of interest are more engaged. Clerical burdens and the EHR have done the opposite of what they were supposed to do, increase efficiency. Physicians need to feel valued at work and should be included in administrative decisions that effect them. Nov. 11, 2022, at 7:48 am Reply