Physician burnout needs urgent attention according to a report from Harvard University and Massachusetts trade groups.
A report has been developed by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, Harvard Global Health Institute in Cambridge, Mass., Massachusetts Medical Society and Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, titled "A Crisis in Health Care: A Call to Action on Physician Burnout."
The report mentions three recommendations to address physician burnout:
1) Supporting proactive mental health treatment for physician experiencing burnout:
Physician face stigma and professional obstacles as they seek appropriate care and treatment for burnout and related mental health concerns. Physician institutions including hospitals, physician associations and licensing bodies should take deliberate steps to get access to appropriate treatment and support without stigma or unnecessary constraints on their ability to practice.
2) Improve EHR standards focusing on usability and open application programming interfaces:
The burden of documentation should reduce. One solution could be to permit software developers to create a range of apps that operate with most certified EHR systems.
3) Appoint executive-level chief wellness officers at healthcare organizations:
Effective CWOs should be senior, full-or part-time executives. Successful solutions will be tailored for the unique features of each healthcare organization. These steps will also improve patient-provider communication.