The physician burnout crisis in the United States is a significant and growing concern within the healthcare industry. Burnout amongst physicians can be described by emotional and physical exhaustion, lack of connection to their patients and their profession, and a decreased sense of personal accomplishment. Burnout not only affects physicians and nurses but also has wide-spread consequences for patients and the broader healthcare ecosystem. Some of the factors leading to increased burnout include excessive administrative tasks, working long-extended hours, and a lack of internal support at the organizational level. The healthcare system's increasing complexity and the pressure to exceed financial and performance goals has put an unprecedented amount of stress on our nation’s healthcare providers.
Most providers are called to the healthcare industry because they have a deep passion for providing care to their patients. They entered the field of medicine to improve people’s lives and to make healthcare available and accessible for the communities they serve. But the truth is, physicians and nurses are experiencing burnout at unprecedented levels due to the large amount of administrative work falling on their shoulders. According to the Aspen Institute, some Providers are spending up to 50% of their time on administrative functions. The amount of time and effort it takes providers to complete a simple administrative task, such as medical documentation, has soared due to an increase in administrative complexities such as EHR system implementations, coding procedures and medical documentation complications.
Physician Shortages
One of the biggest impacts of the physician burnout crisis is the onset of physician shortages. With the constant evolution of healthcare technology and regulations, physicians can quickly begin to experience burnout symptoms due to the ever-changing landscape of the industry. For example, the time they once spent visiting with patients is now spent on a computer or in an office filling paperwork.
Unfortunately, the physical and emotional toll of increased administrative complexity is causing more and more healthcare providers to leave the industry mid-way through their careers. It is estimated that the United States will face a shortage of over 86,000 providers by 2036. The increase in administrative demands is causing physicians, nurses, and other clinical workers to lose the connection they have with their patients and many have opted to leave the industry in search of new career passions. With the shortage of providers on the rise, it is more important than ever to solve the administrative challenges facing healthcare so our communities can have access to the healthcare services they need.
Patient Care and Safety
In addition to the negative impacts on providers and healthcare organizations, the increase in administrative burdens is having a direct impact on patient experiences and outcomes. The lack of resources, time, and connectivity is forcing providers to spend less and less focused-time with their patients. A burnt-out provider can experience decreased attentiveness, impaired decision-making, and a higher likelihood of making critical errors when diagnosing and treating patients. The reality is, patients are subject to facing serious consequences and diminished outcomes when their providers are being stretched too thin in their work. Additionally, burnout has been known to weaken the physician-patient relationship due to a lack of empathy, understanding, and communication.
The Solution is Signature
At Signature Performance, we believe healthcare is a calling. A calling to make the lives of the people we work with better. We believe in the power of our nation's physicians and nurses and are dedicated to streamlining administrative burdens and inefficiencies so their time and energy can be focused on what called them to healthcare in the first place.
Signature Performance is improving not only our clients’ business but the healthcare industry as a whole by finding strategic ways to leverage our team of healthcare professionals, our state-of-the-art technologies and our streamlined processes. By identifying new ways to streamline healthcare administrative functions it is our hope that we can be a part of the solution that can reduce physician burnout and transform the industry. Our extensive track record over the last 20 years in both the payer and provider markets in the federal and commercial sectors proves we are equipped to tackle any administrative burden with a thoughtful and strategic approach.
To learn more about our mission and dedication to transforming healthcare, visit www.signatureperformance.com/aboutus