Provider Burnout Is Worse Than Ever (and We Can’t Pin All the Blame on the Pandemic)

As JUCM and JUCM News readers know, the COVID-19 pandemic ratcheted up already-high risk for burnout among urgent care providers. However, new data published in Medscape’s U.S. Physician Burnout & Depression Report 2023 suggest it would be a mistake to assume that as the burden of SARS-CoV-2 cases continues to wane, so will provider burnout. The report acknowledges that rates of burnout have increased by 26% since 2018, but survey responses indicate that there are root problems inherent in practicing medicine within the existing health system. In fact, bureaucratic demands were cited by 61% of respondents as the main cause of burnout. And 38% said lack of respect from coworkers is a factor. For purposes of the report, burnout was defined as “long-term, unresolved, job-related stress leading to exhaustion, cynicism, detachment from job responsibilities, and lacking a sense of personal accomplishment.” The data reflect responses from 9,175 U.S. physicians from 29 specialty areas, so may not be generalizable to urgent care. For information specific to urgent care—including methods that could help you head off severe burnout in your team members, read Recognizing and Preventing Provider Burnout in Urgent Care in the JUCM archive.