The rate of burnout continues among doctors, according to a survey conducted by Geneia, the healthcare technology and clinical solutions firm. The most alarming stat is their Nationwide Physician Misery Index is 3.7 out of 5.

The culprits of burnout appear to remain the same: bureaucracy, too many hours and appointments, unsatisfactory income, effects of the ACA, and the quality care and time with patients. The Geneia survey found that 67% of physicians know a peer who is likely to prematurely resign within 5 years because of burnout (both young and old), and 51% of physicians have considered leaving medicine.

Results of Medscape’s recent 2015 Physician Lifestyle Report, a survey of approximately 20,000 physicians, strongly back the Misery Index. In just 2 years, there has been a 16% increase in the incidence of self-reported burnout. What specialty has the highest percentage of physicians who are “burned out”? The top specialties are:

♦ Critical Care: 53%

♦ Emergency Medicine: 52%

♦ Family Medicine: 50%

♦ Internal Medicine: 50%

♦ General Surgery: 50%

♦ HIV/Infectious Diseases: 50%

The specialties that have the lowest percentage of physicians experiencing burnout are:

♦ Dermatology: 37%

♦ Psychiatry & Mental Health: 38%

♦ Pathology: 39%

♦ Gastroenterology: 41%

♦ Ophthalmology: 41%

For the full list, visit Medscape.

“Medicine can be an unforgiving profession. On the one hand, we deal with life and death issues while, on the other, any outward show of distress is often not tolerated and can have grave consequences,” writes Samantha Meltzer-Brody, MD, in The Health Care Blog.

After working hard to get there, do you struggle practicing medicine while student debt and years of dedication sit in your rear view mirror?



Source: Adapted from: Geneia

Source: Adapted from: Medscape Physician Lifestyle Report 2015