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Recommendations Developed to Address Clinician Burnout

FRIDAY, Nov. 1, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- In Taking Action Against Clinician Burnout, a new report published online Oct. 23 by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, recommendations are presented to address clinician burnout.

Pascale Carayon, Ph.D., from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and colleagues considered clinician burnout and professional well-being in the context of a broader system and identified key issues that need addressing.

Based on assessment of the available evidence, the committee concluded that a bold vision for redesigning clinical systems is necessary to address burnout. Six goals and associated actions are presented in the report, including: creation of positive work environment that can prevent and reduce burnout, foster professional well-being, and support quality care; creation of positive learning environments; and reduction of administrative burden to prevent and reduce the negative effects on clinicians' professional well-being that result from laws, regulations, policies, and standards. Additional goals were enabling technology solutions to optimize use of health information technologies to support clinicians; providing support to clinicians and learners by reducing the stigma and eliminating barriers associated with obtaining support and services necessary to prevent burnout; and investing in research dedicated to clinician professional well-being.

"My fellow panel members and I hope that this report leads to meaningful system-level change that effectively addresses the underlying factors driving the high prevalence of burnout in today's health care professionals," committee member Lotte Dyrbye, M.D., said in a statement. "Burnout is the result of chronic workplace stress. Solutions lie within the work environment."

Taking Action Against Clinician Burnout