According to the Center for Anxiety and Mood Disorders about one in three physicians experience “burnout” at any given time. Physicians are also 15 times more likely to experience burnout than other professionals.

Burnout is widely misconceived. Many assume it’s a phenomenon of physicians working too hard, not nurturing their bodies with the proper nutrition and sleep, and lacking resiliency and the ability to cope with stress. This is misleading. In using the term “burnout,” society is placing the blame on the physician. But, people don’t “burn out” because of weakness or poor self-care. We are under extraordinary stress that we are often unable to alleviate.

For physicians, this means the constant exposure to human suffering and pain, death, and workplace violence. These are a handful of challenges we face daily in the emergency department that can create an untenable work environment and even lead to post-traumatic stress disorder.

In addition, today’s emergency physicians are burdened by increasing administrative, regulatory, and technology responsibilities. Other stressors associated with the profession can include school-related debt and financial instability, credentialing challenges, and litigation. There’s also the time commitment and the sacrifices families have to make in addition to other personal obligations that can weigh on physicians.

Despite the nature of the work and the inherent stress, we are in this profession because of the opportunity to make a difference in peoples’ lives.

So, what is physician burnout? It is the conflict between meeting increasing demands without any concerted effort to mitigate them or provide extra resources, all while operating in extraordinarily stressful circumstances.

What is at Stake?

The health of physicians; the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care; and the quality of life in our communities.

Burnout is taking a toll on physicians, and the consequences are sobering. It is believed that burnout contributes to 300 to 400 physician suicides each year. We must first take care of each other. We are there 24 hours a day, seven days a week to care for people when they need us most. Providing quality, patient-centered care means physicians have to be at their best and feel unencumbered, supported, and encouraged in their work.

As physicians, the goal is to provide quality, patient-centered care and be there for patients no matter the circumstance. However, an increased emphasis on administrative responsibilities can impede the ability to spend time face-to-face with patients and focus on what matters most, providing care.