Three Ways to Address Burnout in Healthcare

Lawmakers in several states have given nurse practitioners and physician assistants much more responsibility in recent years, which is helping to address the physician shortage. Nurse practitioners (NPs) and Physician Assistants (PAs) are more than capable of completing many of the procedures traditionally reserved for physicians. If more state legislatures would allow NPs and PAs to take on these responsibilities, it could reduce the burden on physicians and the healthcare industry at large.

Fewer procedures for a physician mean less stress, more time with patients, and perhaps even fewer hours of work. When physicians can share their growing workload with other qualified professionals, they're less likely to burn out.

The physician shortage didn't become an issue solely because fewer physicians are available - it's also rooted in where they go. Rural communities are particularly underserved in terms of medical care because many physicians choose to practice in urban environments.

One way to encourage physicians to join rural facilities is by providing financial incentives such as student loan payback. Physician debt is a serious issue, and reimbursement programs alleviate the physician shortage in rural areas while helping new doctors pay down their loans.

It's difficult to predict when physicians will retire, quit the profession, or decide to move. Staffing models such as locum tenens allow a facility to fill unexpected gaps in coverage with qualified physicians.

If a veteran doctor wants to take a vacation or work fewer hours, a short-term appointment can provide her with that freedom. Many physicians who have struggled with burnout opt for locum tenens work because they enjoy the cycle; they work hard for a set amount of time, and then they can recover with a break before they begin a new assignment.