Reforms needed
Laxmi Mehta, MD, chief well-being leader, faculty director of the Gabbe Health and Well-Being Program, professor of medicine at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, and spokesperson for the American Heart Association, noted, “The burnout rates are much higher than our previously reported American College of Cardiology data, which found burnout rates at about 27%; however, that survey was conducted prepandemic,” she said. Dr. Mehta was the lead author of that 2019 report.
She said in an interview that she would have liked to see more breakdowns by gender, and whether there was an association between burnout and the number of procedures performed.
“Nevertheless,” she said, “the rates are very high for burnout, stress, and dissatisfaction, as well as mental health issues. Almost one half of the IC attendings considered leaving their job, which is also seen in other surveys, and is concerning given the projected shortages in the workforce.”
Changes need to be made in the profession of medicine as a whole, she said, though that is unlikely to happen any time soon. “Optimizing workflows and improving the work culture requires not only time, but also collaboration between administration and clinicians, along with an intent and strategic plan focused on well-being of the organization.”
With regard to prior authorization, she said, “medical organizations are advocating for reform at the state and national level. If meaningful reforms can occur, that can reduce some of the bureaucracy. However, there is much more [bureaucracy] in medicine.”
With respect to mental health, she added, “there is a lot that needs to be done to reduce the stigma of seeking help. Many physicians don’t seek help due to the shame, lack of time, and potential impact it can have on hospital credentialing and state medical licensing. Medical organizations and individuals are advocating for reforms in this space, as well, to normalize mental health.”
The Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation’s Science Center for Coronary Artery Disease helped support this research project. Dr. Brilakis, study coauthors, and Dr. Mehta report no relevant financial relationships.
A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.