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Recognize, take steps to avoid burnout
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There is no doubt that optometry can be very rewarding in many ways – from helping people see clearly to changing everyday lives to enjoying a well-paying profession.
The multitude of daily clerical and clinical duties, managing patients and staff, external pressure from insurance and professional regulations, and online competition all place an enormous burden on managing the well-being of the eyes and vision of other human beings. These challenges can also make the practice of optometry incredibly stressful.
Optometry is not immune to the challenges that other health care providers and physicians encounter. Physician burnout has been well documented and recently has been talked more openly as it affects individuals and creates a health care system-wide problem.
Many authors have speculated on the origin of physician burnout as a product of the health care system putting irrelevant regulatory requirements ahead of humanistic empathy for an individual’s emotional and mental breakdown.
Regardless of the origin, it is a real problem affecting many of the professionals that are the foundation of our health care system.
The first step toward overcoming burnout is recognizing when serving others becomes a burden. From general feelings of frustration and anxiety to episodes of difficulty getting along with people surrounding you, the emotional drain can cause your relationship with the people with whom you work and interact to change. Changes in sleeping patterns to difficulty getting out of bed and being motivated to work are also telltale signs of professional fatigue.
If you are experiencing any of these signs or symptoms, it’s time to take a step back and reevaluate your work-life balance and quality of life. As a professional and as an individual, it is important to recognize the feelings that trigger professional stress, anxiety and frustration. You can’t eliminate them all but, once identified, you could try to reduce your exposure as much as possible.
We often provide advice to patients but at times do not follow through on essential behavior that is the core of our well-being. Relaxation, physical activity and nutrition all play a prominent role in a balanced life. Make sure you are eating a healthy diet and getting enough sleep. If you are not doing so, make sure you incorporate physical activity into your routine and find both physical and mental activities that help you relax and unwind.
Overcoming burnout starts by being honest about your feelings and yourself. It’s in nobody’s best interest for you to run yourself emotionally and professional empty. If you are feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to change; not doing so could potentially place both you and your patients in harm’s way. There is no shame in recognizing burnout, talking to others about this and taking steps in small investments in yourself and your well-being.
A few vacation days, a quick challenge outside of work that will take your mind in a different, creative direction or a physical challenge are all small changes that will make you more efficient. Recognizing burnout and adapting small changes are fundamental steps in keeping you happy and helping you deliver the exceptional eye care you’re capable of and your patients deserve.
Continue reading to learn how physicians in other fields are dealing with burnout. – by Agustin Gonzalez, OD, FAAO
References:
Murray A, et al. J Gen Intern Med. 2001;16:451-459.
Shanafelt TD. JAMA. 2009;302(12):1338–1340;doi:10.1001/jama.2009.1385.
Shanafelt TD, et al. J Gen Intern Med. 2005;20(7):559–564;doi:10.1111/j.1525-1497.2005.0108.x.
Simple strategies can lessen, eliminate physician burnout
Acknowledging stress, accepting help and addressing fatigue are useful strategies for clinicians facing burnout, according to recommendations published in Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America.
“Burnout is physical or mental collapse that is caused by overwork or stress, and all physicians are at risk,” Roger P. Smith, MD, assistant dean for graduate medical education and professor in the department of integrated medical science at Florida Atlantic University’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, said in a press release. “Professional burnout is not new, but what is new is the wider recognition of the alarming rates of burnout. Physicians in general have burnout rates that are twice the rate of working adults.”
BLOG: Avoiding burnout is your choice
The burnout prevalence rates continue to increase with no apparent end to this disturbing trend. One recent study cited the prevalence of emotional exhaustion amongst orthopedic surgeons approached 60%.
The onset of burnout is not inevitable. Emotional depletion can be sidestepped. The answer lies in the power of decision. We have the power to choose what we direct our attention to and, in these choices, lay our growth and happiness – or lack thereof.
AMA revisits issue of physician burnout
On the final day of its annual meeting, American Medical Association delegates adopted a new policy designed to improve medical student and physician access to mental health care, according to a press release.
“We are concerned that many physicians and physicians-in-training are dealing with burnout, depression and even suicidal thoughts, and we find it especially concerning that physicians have a higher rate of suicide than the general population,” AMA board member Omar Z. Maniya, MD, said in the release. “We are committed to supporting physicians throughout their career journey to ensure they have more meaningful and rewarding professional experiences and provide the best possible care to their patients.”
VIDEO: Incorporating mindfulness into medical practice
SAN DIEGO — By using mindfulness themselves, clinicians and mental health professionals can establish a compassionate attitude, increase empathy for patients, improve their ability to serve patients and decrease burnout, according to Seema Desai, MD, of NYU School of Medicine.
In this video, Desai illustrates ways in which the clinician or trainee can integrate mindfulness into his or her psychiatric practice.
“The clinician practicing mindfulness themselves and being familiar with these practices can benefit the clinician and patient,” Desai told Healio.com.
AAFP addresses physician burnout
The American Academy of Family Physicians recently announced a new initiative to combat physician burnout, called Physician Health First, that will commence in a few months.
According to the AAFP, more than 50% of family physicians suffer from at least one symptom of burnout, and previous research published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine suggests the frequency of burnout among board-certified family physicians is just under 25%, with younger family physicians and women at particularly high risk.