Explore the latest research, news and developments in the world of wellness in this installment of the Well-Being Weekly. Get caught up on this week's biggest stories surrounding mental health and well-being in the healthcare industry, provided by Well-Being Index experts Patrick McNally and Sunny Prabhakar.
The current landscape of physician burnout
Before the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the world, physician burnout and distress had reached an all-time high. Now, with the added physical and psychological hazards of working through the pandemic, it has never been more important to care for physician well-being. Explore our comprehensive report on the causes, symptoms, and impact of physician burnout, as well as the importance of addressing it, resources to improve well-being, and evidence-based strategies to Go Beyond Burnout.
Over 40% of physicians are at a high level of distress
In the recently-published State of Well-Being 2019 Report, the Well-Being Index team compiled all of the data gathered in 2019. Among over 12,000 physicians who assessed in 2019, over 40% were at a high level of distress. These physicians identified as being at a high level of distress are at a:
- 5x higher risk of burnout
- 4x higher risk of experiencing severe fatigue
- 3x higher risk of having a poor overall quality of life
- 2x higher risk of reporting a recent medical error
- 2x higher risk of suicidal ideation
The data also shows that 55.9% of physicians were burned out, over half reported emotional problems, and 37% didn't have enough time for their personal/family life. Download the free report to explore even more statistics on healthcare provider well-being in 2019.
The business case for investing in physician well-being
In a recent JAMA Internal Medicine study titled "The Business Case for Investing in Physician Well-Being," Dr. Tait Shanafelt and other researchers detail the financial costs and economical impact of physician burnout, along with the importance of caring for the financial safety of healthcare institutions.
"Although there is a strong moral and ethical case for organizations to address physician burnout, financial principles (eg, return on investment) can also be applied to determine the economic cost of burnout and guide appropriate investment to address the problem."
Many organizations have utilized the Well-Being Index Cost of Burnout Calculator to measure return on investment to secure the necessary investment. To learn more about the business case for investing in wellness initiatives, contact a Well-Being Index Expert.
Well-Being Weekly
Make sure to look for next week's Well-Being Weekly update to stay on top of everything happening in the world of wellness. Follow the Well-Being Index on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn for even more content and resources surrounding clinician well-being and mental health!
The Well-Being Index team is made up of thought leaders, healthcare associates, technology experts, and content creators dedicated to improving well-being by equipping organizations with the tools and data needed to Go Beyond Burnout.
