Physician Burnout - Who Will Save Us

Posted by Dike Drummond MD

Physician Burnout - Who will Save Us?

Let's talk about what to do when you finally realize you are on your own, that no one and nothing is coming to rescue you.

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In most burnout blog posts and comments on the internet, physicians do the same thing - blame, justify and complain about the work stresses we are under.

  • Our struggles and frustrations are real
  • Our concerns are 100% legitimate
  • And yet pointing fingers and playing the victim will only keep you stuck DEEP in Einstein's Insanity Trap

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Learn More:

235 Proven Tools for Your Burnout Prevention Strategy
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The latest survey shows over 60% of doctors suffering from symptomatic burnout on any given office day. New levels of work stress seem to pile on each week. We all daydream of a lifeline, a rescue, a refuge, a break.

It is as if we are locked high in the castle tower, at the mercy of our evil captors - EMR, MOC, Preauths, RVU production quotas, the Call Center is a mess, and my Inbox is overflowing like a plugged toilet. Surely someone has dispatched a knight in shining armor to free us from this torment.

All of these concerns are true and valid AND understand one thing ...

Complaining and dreaming of a rescue is Playing the Victim - Pure and Simple

There is no one and nothing coming to save you

This yearning only distracts you from saving yourself

Let me set a framework for addressing burnout effectively - the straightest path to meaningful change in your work day and your organization.

So you can release the urge to blame, justify and complain,
hear that little voice calling you to take back your practice,
and know how to get started. 

 

Tags: physician burnout prevention, Dike Drummond MD, Physician Burnout, physician stress, Physician Leadership

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Physician Burnout – Pathophysiology and Treatment of Burnout

Posted by Dike Drummond MD

In my work with over stressed physicians I have noticed a consistent misunderstanding of the pathophysiology of burnout – the hidden methods physician burnout uses to sap your energy and steal your passion for medicine.

In this post I will show you how Physician Burnout does it’s dirty work.

Once you clearly understand how physician burnout operates, you will begin to see the simple ways you can keep the normal stresses of being a doctor — from crossing the line into threatening your career, your marriage and even your life.

Tags: physician burnout prevention, Physician Burnout, physician burnout treatment, physician burnout pathophysiology

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Time Management is a Myth – Manage This instead

Posted by Dike Drummond MD


Time management is a myth.

There is no such thing as time management.  You and I get 24 hours in each day – 168 of them in a week. No more and no less. The seconds in an hour are a fixed resource that no one can manipulate or manage or finagle or cajole or multiply. So let’s all stop focusing on ” time management ” and do something MUCH more productive instead.

Let me show you a simple checklist to
Manage Your Priorities instead

and create more work-life balance this week

Tags: Physician Burnout, time management

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Old School Physician Burnout Quote of the Week

Posted by Dike Drummond MD

A member of our network just sent me this quote.

I believe it is meant to be some kind of funny ... or a perhaps is offered up as a twisted "reality check" to those who attempt to have healthy boundaries between work and home and run into this individual who appears to claim Iron Man status.

It is certainly old school and completely unhealthy and just plain wrong. This is the workaholic, superhero, Lone Ranger, perfectionist programming we are all victim to.  

This is the boomer philosophy that makes it impossible to have healthy boundaries and admit to any struggle. This is where Imposter Syndrome begins. I feel like I want to take a shower after I read this. You?

Tags: stop physician burnout

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Frequent Imposter Syndrome Impairs One in Four US Physicians

Posted by Dike Drummond MD

"Physicians suffer Imposter Syndrome more than other US Workers"

A headline that has every doctor and nurse nodding their head in agreement and my personal "DUH of the Week" in healthcare industry news.

Fortunately, the authors put together some pretty good recommendations for action steps in the end. Check it out. 

A new study from Tait Shanafelt MD, et al at Stanford is out:

Imposter Phenomenon in US Physicians Relative to the US Working Population

SYNOPSIS:

The researchers conducted a national survey of roughly 3,000 physicians between the ages of 29 and 65. In the survey, physicians ranked four statements on a 5-point scale, from “not at all” to “very true.” The statements expressed thoughts related to burnout, professional fulfillment, self-valuation and suicide.

Based on the participants’ rankings, the study authors found that 1 in 4 physicians experienced frequent or intense imposter syndrome symptoms. (bolds are mine)

AND Stronger feelings of imposter syndrome bring greater risk of occupational burnout, suicidal thoughts and professional unfulfillment.

 

We All Know This is True and remember how it started way back in Medical School.

The inner voice says, "What if they find out?"
... and you are off to the Shame and Guilt Olympics.

Tags: Physician Burnout

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Physician Wellness Comes First - It is the Foundation for Engagement and Performance

Posted by Dike Drummond MD

 

For over 50 years, hundreds of research studies have demonstrated this consistent hierarchy
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Physician Wellness is the Foundation for Physician Engagement and Performance.


The Health, Happiness and Wellbeing of your Physicians and Staff will determine:

Their levels of Engagement and Satisfaction
The ease of Recruitment and the amount of Turnover in the patient care teams
The Quality of their care
The Quantity of care they can deliver
The Safety of that care and the number of Medical Errors
The level of Patient Satisfaction

[ and even the Net Promoter Score if that is what keeps you up at night ]

NOTICE:
PHYSICIAN WELLBEING COMES FIRST 

WELLBEING begets ENGAGEMENT which begets PERFORMANCE
IN THAT ORDER

Tags: stop physician burnout, physician wellbeing

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Narrative Medicine: A Poem - Seeking the Sacred Space

Posted by Dike Drummond MD

STOP #PhysicianBurnout
Narrative Medicine
A Poem

 

Tags: stop physician burnout, narrative medicine, physician poem, Physician poetry

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Welcome to the Newest Member of our Physician Coach Team - Susan Leggett-Johnson MD

Posted by Dike Drummond MD

Help us welcome Doctor Susan Leggett-Johnson MD to our physician coach team!

Susan has completed her executive coaching and physician coach training and joins our diverse team of physician coaches at TheHappyMD.com.

Dr. Leggett-Johnson a is a certified executive coach, board-certified internist, very experienced physician executive, mom and a woman of color in healthcare who plays an active role in addressing diversity, equity and inclusion issues in medicine.

She is calm, thoughtful, an excellent listener and shares her insights from a deep well of  experience as a physician, physician leader and a woman of color navigating both clinical and leadership roles in the healthcare industry. 

Susan is an expert in helping you recognize and recover from burnout, find a path to a more ideal practice, develop leadership skills especially if you are in a named leadership position and helping moms and women of color navigate the journey to being a happy, healthy physician too.

Tags: Physician Coaching, stop physician burnout, susan leggett-johnson

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3 things Amazon could do with One Medical to create a Healthcare Breakthrough

Posted by Dike Drummond MD

Admit their ignorance of healthcare delivery and build a truly collaborative workplace ... for starters.

Amazon is buying primary care company One Medical and the whole medical industry is holding its breath to see what a warehouse and delivery titan can do in the healthcare space.

They don't have a stellar reputation as an employer and physician burnout rates are topping 50%. I am not sure they bring anything new to the table. That level of ignorance can be an advantage if they go back to basics.

In this blog post, let's discuss the business vs. healing divide and let me show you three things Amazon could do as they acquire One Medical that would be a true breakthrough in quality care for both patients and the providers of care.

Tags: stop physician burnout

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Is this Live Training a Physician Burnout Vaccine?

Posted by Dike Drummond MD

How can a one-hour training at a Medical Staff Meeting change a doctor's life?

Several times a month I meet a doctor who tells me,

"I saw you at a Medical Staff meeting (six) years ago.
I want you to know you changed my life.
I wouldn't have made it without that night and your book.
My wife/husband said I had to make sure I told you."

What a pleasure and a true honor to know that what we did together made a positive difference for that doctor's practice, their patients and their family. Wow!

And none of it was by accident.

All of our trainings are designed for immediate impact for anyone who is ready for change.

Tags: physician wellness, stop physician burnout, physician wellness training

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