When physicians recognize and challenge problematic thoughts and focus on what they love about medicine, they feel good and interact with patients and coworkers in positive ways.
If technology contributes to stress by being too complex or impractical, it’s important to identify individuals in the workplace (eg, IT support or “super-users”) to help address these challenges. Organizations can implement multidisciplinary teams to address EHR challenges and decrease physician stress and burnout by training support staff to assist with clerical duties, allowing physicians to focus on patient care.47,48 Such organizational-directed interventions will be most successful when physicians are included in the decision-making process.47
Take on leadership roles to influence change. Leadership may be formal (involving a title and authority) or informal (leading by example). Health care organizations that are committed to the well-being of physicians will make the effort to improve the systems in which physicians work. Physicians working in organizations that are reluctant to change have several choices: implement individual strategies, take on leadership roles to influence change, or reconsider their fit for the organization. Physicians in solo practice might consider joining others in solo practices to share systems (call, phone triage, technical resources, etc) to implement some of these interventions.
Dr. A and Dr. M implement new wellness strategies
Dr. A and Dr. M have recently committed to addressing stressors in their lives and improving their wellness. Dr. A has become more assertive at work, highlighting her need for additional resources to function effectively. In response, her practice has hired scribes to assist in documenting visits. This success has inspired Dr. A to pay attention to her lifestyle choices. Gradually, she has begun to exercise and engage in healthy eating.
Dr. M has begun to utilize resources at his medical center to improve his EHR efficiency and patient flow. He has taken steps to address his financial concerns, developing a budget and spending judiciously. He practices mindfulness and ensures that he gets at least 7 hours of sleep per night, improving his mental and physical health. By doing so, he has more energy to connect with friends, exercise, and date.
CORRESPONDENCE Margaret L. Smith, MD, MPH, MHSA, KUMC, Family Medicine and Community Health, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard – Mailstop 4010, Kansas City, KS 66160; msmith33@kumc.edu
