What Is Medical Burnout?

Professionals operating in the health care field face long workdays, a demanding pace, time pressures and emotional impacts that can lead to a risk of burning out. Medical burnout is a long-term reaction to these stresses and is marked by exhaustion (both physical and mental), depersonalization and a reduced sense of accomplishment.

Health providers are increasingly being asked to do more with less resources and the burden has fallen on clinicians to a disproportionate degree. By some estimates over 50% of medical professionals are impacted. This has led to undesirable consequences such as doctors leaving their positions and has resulted in a reduction in the availability and quality of patient care. In some cases physicians also suffer from impaired concentration, memory and the ability to perform their functions effectively. To address this health care systems have focused on improving working conditions for health care professionals.