A new model for preventing physician burnout was published today in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings. The proposed model, authored by a team of psychology and medical professionals from Palo Alto University and Stanford University School of Medicine, calls for a career-long approach to fostering a physician’s well-being, one that is introduced early in undergraduate medical training and extends throughout professional training and continuing medical education. The approach is modeled after traditional medical education and emphasizes intrapersonal and interpersonal skills that help physicians cope with the emotional, social and physical impact of patient care delivery. The article entitled, “Foster Well-Being Throughout the Career Trajectory: A Developmental Model of Physician Resilience Training,” states that physician burnout is common and largely driven by the demands of the current health care industry. While undergraduate, graduate and continuing medical education equips physicians with essential medical knowledge and skills, the comprehensive, long-term models of resilience training are lacking. The team’s perspective is informed by both a review of current literature and their backgrounds in behavioral medicine/health psychology and early intervention for traumatic stress as well as medical school faculty members who practice, teach and supervise in academic and Veterans Affairs medical centers. “Current literature states that physician burnout is increasingly prevalent both in medical trainees and practicing physicians,” says article co-author and Palo Alto University associate professor Matthew J. Cordova. The article cites adverse consequences of burnout includes decreased productivity and poor efficiency, medical errors, poorer patient satisfaction, non-adherence and poor patient outcomes, reduced physician empathy, depression, substance abuse and suicide.” Co-author Christophe E. Gimmer, MD, LMFT at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System and Stanford University School of Medicine says that systemic contributors to physician burnout can include increased workload, electronic medical records and other administrative tasks, chaotic work environments, and an increased focus on productivity in the context of reduced financial compensation and greater liability threats.” According to co-author Lars G. Osterberg, MD, MPH of the VA Palo Alto Health Care System and Stanford University School of Medicine, “Physician wellness interventions vary widely and have yielded mixed results. This model would normalize and validate the full range of emotional reactions to occupational stress, acknowledge the universal emotional challenges and effects of patient care and empower physicians to self-identify distress, seek support and assert their needs individually and as a professional community. Source
