The prevention of physician burnout isn’t only vital to the health and wellness of medical practitioners but also the entire healthcare system. After all, if doctors are stressed and overworked to the point of emotional and physical collapse, not only can it result in high turnover rates, but it may compromise their ability to practice medicine, which can severely affect patient health.
Without the rate of burnout reaching an all-time high, avoiding it isn’t only a priority but a necessity. So the question is, how can healthcare providers avoid burnout? Here are a few tips that should help.
Avoid bringing work home
As simple as it may seem, you’ll be surprised at how many healthcare providers bring their work home with them. While there are cases where it’s necessary, it’s always best to keep appointments within your daily shift. After all, you won’t get enough time to rest, engage in enjoyable activities, or be in the company of loved ones if you keep on letting your career seep into your personal life. One tip is to avoid checking your email or responding to work-related messages and calls outside your working hours.
If you’re unable to free enough time from work, one career path you may want to try is working in locum. Locum tenens companies offer many benefits, including opportunities to travel and earn more. Moreover, they can offer flexible schedules to ensure that you don’t burn yourself out.
Streamline tasks
Routine in-practice chores and administrative tasks are thankless work—it’s unlikely that there’ll be an end to documentation, patient requisition, and entry work. With many doctors suggesting that they spend a couple of hours in front of their computers for each hour they interact with patients and time-related pressures being one of, if not the most, common reasons for doctors burning out, streamlining tasks can be helpful in reducing time spent at work without compromising your practice.
So evaluate your average work days and check how much of what you do involves practicing medicine. Ask yourself if there are admin tasks you can delegate. Look for strategies to shorten what would otherwise be lengthy work, such as having a cheat sheet for your billing codes on hand. The more streamlined your daily responsibilities are, the less stressed out you’ll be.
Have a network of support
Nobody becomes a doctor alone, and practicing medicine isn’t an exception. Because the industry often demands long hours and hectic schedules, it’s crucial to have a network of support from loved ones like family and friends. Regardless of whether you’re a seasoned professional or have just completed your residency, practicing medicine will always be a struggle. And having people you can communicate with about your troubles will make a difference.
Conclusion
Stressful working environments and long hours make doctors and other medical practitioners more susceptible to burnout than other professions, compromising not only their health but their ability to perform their jobs. Don’t let this happen, and make sure you follow the above-mentioned tips. They can keep you from getting burned out.