Healthcare Burnout Part 1

In today’s healthcare system there is a demand and a pressure to improve healthcare as a whole.  More patients are facing chronic diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, cancers, obesity and more.  Unfortunately, there are not current fixes to all of these conditions and problems.  Within the healthcare system, healthcare workers are at the front line of these efforts to improve patient care.  As healthcare needs are changing across the United States, so is the impact on healthcare workers.  The pressure of improved patient care is coming from all sides including patients, politicians, communities, health insurance, and even from other parts of the healthcare system.
With these high demands there is an increasing amount of reported burnout from healthcare providers.  Burnout is defined as an excessive amount of stress that one faces which then affects your emotional, physical and mental health in the form of exhaustion.  Some signs or symptoms of burnout can include feeling tired all the time, trouble separating work from your personal life, lack of motivation, feeling emotionally drained, not feeling satisfaction from your work and more.  The concern with burnout in healthcare providers is that it is often connected with patient errors and poor patient care.  When one is dealing with burnout, it can be challenging to put forth your one hundred percent best work efforts.  It also impacts one’s job satisfaction and overall well-being.  However, with ongoing support and efforts to reduce burnout, we can make a difference.
Next week, we will take a look at some ways you as a current or future healthcare provider can prevent both your own burnout and encourage those around you to seek help when needed from burnout.
Information was sourced from: http://thenationshealth.aphapublications.org/content/48/8/1.3