Physician Burnout: Solutions for Individuals and Organizations

Abstract

Burnout in medicine has become a national epidemic, affecting greater than one third of physicians, and yet physicians, departments, and institutions remain ill equipped to address it. Burnout is a syndrome characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a reduced sense of accomplishment that occurs as a response to one's environment. We have a moral and ethical imperative to address physician burnout, as it has immense implications within healthcare. Solutions have historically focused on changing the behavior of the individual, but research has demonstrated that long-lasting change is brought about by intervening at the organizational level, which requires that leadership champion these efforts. Departmental and hospital leadership play a critical role in addressing the drivers of burnout. Here, we outline evidence-based strategies to combat physician burnout at both the individual and organizational levels and review what has been explored within the field of plastic surgery.