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Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Physician Burnout Jumps Dramatically In 3-Year Study

Physicians may be more stressed than ever — one recent survey found that half were thinking about hanging up their stethoscopes for good. New research continues to demonstrate the demise of doctors, with burnout levels jumping dramatically over just a three-year span.

According to researchers at the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine, physician burnout increased from 45.5% to 54.4% between 2011 and 2014. The researchers say doctors aren’t more depressed or exhausted by their home life, but rather at their jobs.

The researchers compared data from between 2011 and 2014 on physician burnout and their satisfaction with their work-life balance. They found that physician burnout indicators are the highest in the fields of emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics. Alexander and Ballou also hypothesized that five transformational medical practice events which occurred between 2011 and 2014 contributed to the spike in physician burnout.

“These are hospital purchases of medical groups, rising drug prices, the Affordable Care Act, ‘pay for performance’ in which providers are offered financial incentives to improve quality and efficiency, and mandated electronic health records,” explains Alexander.

“Doctors now spend more time with electronic health records than they do with patients. Electronic health records were pushed by the government at great expense and without regard to the effects upon patient or physician health. Go into any hospital and look for the nurses and the doctors. You will find them sitting in front of computers. They are not happy, and their patients are not healthier.”

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12 comments:

Anonymous said...

They do not work 5 days a week. Cry me a river Mr six figure income. Boo frigging hoo

Anonymous said...

I guess I would get burnt out too if all I did all day was meet with drug company reps and see patients for 5 minutes and have my NP wright prescriptions.

It's a lot of work tracking the prescriptions for the drug company's sales goals.

Anonymous said...

Wow, what ignorant comments from losers that have no idea what it is like to hold someones life in their hands for 30 years and multiply that by thousands of patients. Ignorant comments from people that are likely some of the few thankless patients that physicians have to tolerate in their careers. Ignorant comments from people that don't have a clue what it takes to become a physician let alone have the compassion to care for others despite battling greedy insurance companies and a runaway malpractice system. Ignorant, disgusting comments from thankless losers that don't deserve a minute of concern from those that dedicate their lives caring for others.

Anonymous said...

To the person above that complains about doctors and their nurse practitioners. Don't go the a physician that has NPs care for their patients! That is your fault if you do. There are physicians that don't employ physician extenders and see all of their own patients. There are also tons of physicians that don't meet with drug reps. By the way, physicians meet with drug reps so that they can accept samples of medications that are then given to patients that can't afford the medication. Don't bitch about that. Also, don't complain about physicians and what they do unless you have walked in their shoes; you have no clue what they go through. I agree with the above post, you are a thankless loser.

Anonymous said...

To bad not all doctors are as glorious as you portray. Nice try though.

Anonymous said...

To Anon 8:15 and 6:31. How about you guys share your sentiments with your personal physicians. Why don't you let them know how much your appreciate what they do for your when you are sick and need care? Why don't you let the ER doctor know how you feel next time you are in the emergency room at near death? Why don't you tell the surgeon what you think of them next time your loved one needs emergency surgery? Why don't you tell the pediatrician what you think next time your child is sick? Why don't you tell the doctor what you said here today when you are in the hospital sick and they come in to see care for you at 3 in the morning?

Anonymous said...

Sounds like an OBAMA administration doctor?? Where we work SOOOOO hard. We did this and that for ourselves. We are GOD on earth. Truth is you've been a privilege brat your ENTIRE life. The ones who ONLY get accepted to medical school because of connections. Don't tell me it doesn't happen. Go through the school working hard until the application for medical school. Then only the elite continue. FACT!!

Anonymous said...

The President is a privileged ELITE so are most the Generals and people we put our lives in the hands of. How is what they do anymore altruistic than what Doctors do ? I am thankful my Doctor had the luxury of an ELITE education and puts it to good use. Only a Socialist would dismiss doctors and relegate them to tradesman.

Anonymous said...

I see my docs for five minutes, if at all. After that there's ten to fifteen minutes of electronic charting, including checking off things that have no bearing on any of my medical issues.

Anonymous said...

Find another Doctor if you are not satisfied. My physician spends as much time as I need with me, answers all questions and is always on time. To put all physicians in the same boat and to call them ELITE and privileged is wrong. Most doctors are dedicated to their profession and to the care of their patients. Most people have no clue what it takes to achieve a medical degree and to care for people and their exhaustive medical and psychological ailments. There are many, much easier and more lucrative ways to make a living.

Anonymous said...

EVERYTIME I see a doctor he wants to put me on a drug. Told me cholesterol levels were a little high. I'll give you a prescription. I said NO. I will cut back on eggs. Besides you put me on one drug. That will harm my HEART. Then I'll be on heart and cholesterol meds. Then that may do something else. Then I'll be on another pill. IT NEVER STOPS.

Anonymous said...

Anon 2:37. Where did you get your medical degree? Google University? You think you know more than the doctor? You obviously don't. Eggs do not cause high cholesterol but, you know better right? Yeh, keep ignoring your doctor's advice and see what happens. Your doctor makes recommendations for your health and you ignore it, why do you go? What does the doctor get from recommending cholesterol medication for you? If you are one of the many tin-hat fools on this forum, you think the doctor gets a kick-back from the drug company, right? Don't worry folks. Darwin's theory will weed out the weak and moronic. At least we can hope.