Physician Wellness

Physician Wellness
Must be a Priority

2022 SURVEY OF AMERICA’S PHYSICIANS

More than two years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians are continuing to face obstacles when it comes to their wellbeing. They have dealt with being on the frontlines of every wave of the pandemic, distributing vaccines and establishing a new normal in their practice environments amidst colleagues’ early retirement, health care worker shortages and growing inequity experienced by patients. Understandably, this has taken a toll on their mental health.

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Key Findings

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Over 70% of physicians believe a multipronged approach needs to be taken to address mental health conditions, burnout and/or preventing suicide, such as:
• Confidential therapy, counseling or support phone lines
• Evidence-based professional training to prevent burnout, behavioral health conditions and suicide

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The majority of physicians identify their family (89%), friends (82%) and colleagues (71%) as most helpful to their mental health and wellbeing during the pandemic.

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Sixty-one percent of physicians report often experiencing feelings of burnout, showing a significant increase since 2018 as tracked by The Physicians Foundation data.

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More than half of physicians (57%) have felt inappropriate feelings of anger, tearfulness or anxiety because of COVID-19

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8 in 10 physicians were impacted as a result of COVID-19.
• 49% reported a reduction in income
• 32% experienced a reduction in staff
• 18% switched to a primary telemedicine practice

Pictures from MSNVA’s 2021 events

The Physicians Foundation 2022 Physician Survey: Part 2

Rate how helpful, if at all, each of the following actions would be in supporting physicians in the workplace.

The Physicians Foundation 2022 Physician Survey: Part 2

Removing low-value work, including reducing EH dicks and minimizing inbox notifications

89%

Giving physicians more flexibility and autonomy to adjust quality and patient experience goals

87%

Eliminating insurance approvals such as pre-authorization

85%

Eliminating unnecessary mandatory training requirements

83%

Eliminating barriers to mental health access such as credentialing questions which ask about prior mental health care

80%

Ensuring adequate mental health care outside of Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)

80%

Getting frontline teams the help they need by creating new types of shifts to fit care needs

76%

Creating penalties for violence, threats and/or discriminatory behavior against healthcare workers

74%

Giving physicians more flexibility and autonomy to use, pause or eliminate crisis documentation protocols

70%

Designating an executive with operational authority to oversee and align all clinician wellbeing efforts

56%

Getting frontline teams the help they need by considering voluntary redeployment for non-clinical staff to the frontlines

53%

Getting frontline teams the help they need by sending executives to the bedside

47%

More than two years into pandemic, the state of physician wellbeing remains low.

68% of those who identified as independent physicians indicated a more drastic reduction in income or staff than physicians who were employed by a hospital or health system.

Six in 10 physicians have felt inappropriate feelings of anger, tearfulness or anxiety.
One-third have felt hopeless or that they have no purpose.
Half report withdrawing from family/ friends/co-workers.

Proportion of Physicians Who Often Have Feelings of Burnout

Compared to 2020, there was a 7 percent increase reported for men and a 1 percent increase reported for women.

Male Physicians

Female Physicians

Proportion of Physicians Who Agree With the Following Statements by Gender

More male physicians than female physicians agree that their workplace culture prioritizes physician wellbeing (39% vs. 31%) and that suicide prevention resources for physicians exist and are easy to access (34% vs. 27%).

Physician Wellness
Must be a Priority