She burned out, he flamed out…so many references to fire in colloquial conversation these days…but why? Because what we all have is a fire in our souls that propels us through our days. And many of us, physicians included, are stretched so thin that we are left with only a spark.
According to the American Medical Association (AMA), 44% of physicians have experienced at one time or another, burnout.
Courtesy of the American Medical Association and its Vice President of professional satisfaction, Christine Sinsky, M.D., here are eight tips that hospitals, clinics and other healthcare providers can use to tamp down the fires of physician and staff burnout.
Tip #1: Measure burnout
Measure burnout? Yes, and as Dr. Sinsky reminds us, if you want to tackle any problem, a good place to start is by measuring it.
According to Dr. Sinksky, you need to gather baseline data.
“We deploy a ten-question survey that has been benchmarked nationally and can be used by leaders to further understand the degree of burnout and its key drivers at their organization. The survey results in two sub-scores, one for work environment (supportive or not) and the other for work pace and stress brought on by electronic health records (EHR). In addition, we have built an ‘organizational biopsy’ which also assesses aspects of organizational culture, such as leadership, teamwork and safety.”
Tip #2: Improve workflow
Once a clinic or hospital has some baseline data regarding stress or burnout then, says Dr. Sinsky, it’s time for interventions, such as the AMA’s STEPS Forward™ program. That program, according to Sinsky, gives a practice assessment tool to providers which identifies workflow stress points.
For example, the Steps Forward program can help dig into details about how pre-visit bloodwork is done, how to systematically close any existing gaps in care, how prescriptions are handled, medication management, team meetings, and each physician’s sense of personal well-being.
Sinsky explained to OTW that “Eight of the over 50 Steps Forward modules address these basic building blocks of an efficient, effective practice; each module includes practical, actionable guidance, tips from experts, downloadable resources such as a sample team meeting agenda and inspiring stories of how other organizations have implemented the particular practice fundamental concept.”
“To date, one of the most powerful interventions that has been implemented at multiple sites is the concept of advanced team-based care with in-room support. This involves a co-visit, with real-time documentation support provided by a medical assistant, nurse or another individual. The most powerful model employs a clinically trained individual who can provide both clinical and clerical assistance.”
