Burnout among physicians is real and at an all-time high. Organizations must do a better job of paying attention to the emotional well-being of physicians. Burnout doesn’t happen overnight. A series of events, stress and changes happen over time that build up to a point where you start to feel like you can’t escape. If organizations are not paying attention to what’s going on around them, by the time they address this crisis it may be too late. Combating burnout and promoting a positive state of emotional well-being for health care providers takes a multi-faceted approach.

1. HOW TO COMBAT
PHYSICIAN BURNOUT
WITH A BALANCED
APPROACH
Just The Right Balance, LLC
Lisa Herbert, M.D., FAAFP
Certified Professional Coach

2. INTRODUCTION
Burnout amongst physicians is at an all-time
high.
Organizations can help by paying attention to
the emotional wellbeing of physicians.
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3. CAUSES OF BURNOUT
 There are many reasons for
the increase in burnout
 working longer hours
 more administrative work
 less time for family and social
interactions
 increased personal demands

4. PHYSICIAN BURNOUT
doesn’t happen
overnight!
A series of events,
stressors and
changes happen
over time that build
up to a point where
physicians feel like
they can’t escape.

5. A MULTIFACETED APPROACH
Combating burnout and promoting a
positive state of emotional well-being for
health care providers takes a multi-
faceted approach. Organizations must:
 Approach 1: Support Work Life Balance
 Approach 2: Be Flexible
 Approach 3: Allow Time to Recoup
 Approach 4: Use a Village Approach

6. APPROACH #1
SUPPORT WORK LIFE BALANCE
 The nature of the job can make it difficult to find balance
between personal and professional life.
 Employers must support work-life balance and provide an
environment that’s healthy and flexible.

7. WHY SUPPORTING WORK LIFE
BALANCE IS IMPORTANT
 Physicians who experience burnout,
often leave organizations due to
 patient volume
 misalignment of expectations
 lack of administrative support
 It’s impossible for physicians to be
present for others without having a
collaborative, supportive work
environment.

8. WHY SUPPORTING WORK LIFE
BALANCE IS IMPORTANT
 Physicians who are happy at home and in their
personal lives will be more productive and
motivated at work and less likely to burnout.
 The result of organizations supporting work-life
balance can result in physicians having a
positive sense of wellbeing and organizations
that thrive under their leadership.

9. APPROACH #2
BE FLEXIBLE

10. BE FLEXIBLE
Being aware of what’s important
and learning to be flexible can
help make the stressful times
manageable.
Organizations can support
physicians in learning how to deal
with these challenges and make it
easier to balance.

11. BE FLEXIBLE
Organizations can support
physicians through this changing
health care environment by
providing resources to help them
move from survival mode to a
state of fulfillment.

12. APPROACH #3
ALLOW TIME TO RECOUP
 Learning to take the time to recoup in between
challenging times is also important.
 Physicians will then become more focused, more
productive and better prepared to deal with the next
challenge that comes their way.

13. ALLOW TIME TO RECOUP
 Chronic stress develops when negative
situations to continue to build without
allowing time to recoup.
 Organizations can encourage physicians
to find time for hobbies and outside
interests that give them fulfillment.
 They can also provide organizational
activities that allows physicians to have
leisure time with colleagues and have a
break from the daily stress of the job.

14. APPROACH #4
A VILLAGE APPROACH
 Developing a state of emotional well-being for physicians is
important because
 the state of a physicians’ mental health has a direct
correlation to the quality of care a patient receives.
 the care goes down as physician burnout increases.
 the physician’s own mental state is at risk as chronic stress
and burnout can lead to depression, anxiety and in some
cases suicide.

15. A VILLAGE APPROACH
 Establishing a village of
supporters is necessary as it is
difficult to maintain wellness and
stability alone. The collaboration
of employers, family and
community is important to ensure
the emotional well-being of
physicians.

16. A VILLAGE APPROACH
Without organizational support,
there is pressure placed on
physicians to try to deal with
burnout themselves. They are told
to heal themselves without
guidance or having someone who
can hold them accountable.

17. A VILLAGE APPROACH
Organizations must develop strategies that help
physicians self-calibrate and promote their own
wellness, that teach habits and qualities to
promote resilience in challenging situations, and
that help physicians in developing personal
interests, engage in self-care, and protect and
nurture relationships.

18. A VILLAGE APPROACH
Organizational wellness
programs can help
physicians reduce burnout
and should include
 coaching for leadership, work
life balance, stress
management and self-
awareness
 healthy lifestyle habits
 peer groups and activities
 counseling
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19. CONCLUSION
Organizations that offer support will have
an improvement in the emotional and
physical well-being of physicians.
 They will also see an increase in morale
and loyalty which will help organizations
reach their goals and organizational
mission of providing optimal care to
patients.

20. THANK YOU
For more information on how we can help
your organization reduce physician burnout
and be the change that is needed for
providers visit our page at
justtherightbalance.com and fill out our
contact form.