Optimal health for a physician hinges on regular, meaningful breaks from the whirlwind of practice.

One of the most effective ways to do this is by taking a two-week vacation—every single year. Yet, American doctors stand out globally as the only group of physicians who don’t regularly prioritize this essential practice.

In this episode, I’ll explain:

1. Why American doctors struggle to take extended breaks.
2. A step-by-step formula to book and enjoy a real two-week vacation without sabotaging yourself.
3. How to use this time to reset your energy, recharge your reserves, and restore your enthusiasm for being a helper, healer, and light worker.

Let’s get started.

In this final episode of 2024, let’s take a look ahead into 2025 and explore 10 system-level challenges that will impact the U.S. healthcare industry—and each of us as physician leaders. These challenges will likely affect your healthcare system, your teams, and your ability to lead effectively in the coming year.

This is a high-level overview to help you anticipate and prepare for these headwinds. Consider it a roadmap to keep you alert to the early signs of these challenges so you’re ready to respond.

What’s Ahead in 2025?

Recently, Becker’s Hospital Review published an article titled “10 Headwinds for Healthcare Systems in 2025”. I thought it was a solid summary, and I know these issues will directly impact physician leaders, healthcare organizations, and staff. Here are the 10 key challenges:

Have you ever been in a serious leadership conversation when, suddenly, the hair on the back of your neck stood up, and you felt things going off the rails? That surge of frustration, anger, or even fury is unmistakable. You know something is wrong, and if you're not careful, those emotions might lead you to say or do something that damages your leadership credibility.

In today's episode, I’m going to show you:

1. The specific topics that trigger these intense emotions for physician leaders.
2. What to say and what not to say to guide the conversation back to a balanced resolution.
3. How to recognize and manage your emotions so you can maintain your influence and leadership effectiveness.

Let’s get started.

This is a transcript of Stop Physician Burnout PODCAST # 123

In America, it’s been two weeks since Luigi Mangione was arrested for the murder of Brian Thompson, CEO of a major U.S. health insurance company. The public reaction to this murder and arrest has made it abundantly clear that the American people understand the hypocrisy at the heart of healthcare.

This has direct implications for you, as a leader in the healthcare industry. In this episode, you'll learn how to stay on the right side of ethics and karma. You’ll discover how to be seen as a good leader, a shining light amidst the dysfunction of U.S. healthcare.

The Business Case for Investing in Physician Wellbeing - a Triple Competitive Advantage for Your Organization

In this blog post let's look at what happens when you run physician burnout in reverse. Here's what I mean.

Let’s cut straight to the chase. Physician burnout isn’t a problem you can solve.

It’s a never-ending balancing act—a dilemma, not a problem. And if you’re trying to fix it - wasting time looking for a one-shot solution, you’re already losing ground.

The only way forward is with a strategy. A sustainable, adaptable approach that addresses burnout at both the personal and organizational levels.

Let me show you our proven, four-part corporate physician wellness strategy that that can be installed in any healthcare organization in a single day. This isn’t theory. This is a battle-tested plan that works, simple enough to sketch on the back of a napkin. Let’s dive in.

Join us to lead the movement away from today's short staffing, overwhelm and hypocrisy to a true Health Care System that makes sense - while there is still time.

Let me show you how to become a four-tool physician leader - and play a bigger role in building the future of healthcare.
Listen or Watch - only 7:54

Stop Physician Burnout Podcast #106
Mastering Physician Leadership - Become a 4 -Tool Leader to join the best of the best.

The promise of AI scribes sounds like a dream come true and it will be, just not for long

We are in the early adoption phase at the peak of the hype cycle. The vision of having your computer write the note for you with faster workflows, and more time for patient care is soooo enticing.

But as with any game-changing technology, there’s a catch: it’s a double-edged sword. The leading edge cuts your daily workload magnificently, but the trailing edge—the industry’s inevitable response to your increased productivity—is a clear and obvious danger to physicians in ways we can’t yet imagine.

IN THIS BLOG POST:

• How the virtual scribe programs are trained and how they will change your work flow.
• Why they might save you up to 50% of the time you now spend on visit notes.
• How the industry will respond to this increase in productivity.
• And why I fear for a future that holds deeper and darker sources of burnout than just the exhaustion of documentation.

An article in Family Practice management this month provides us with what feels like a blueprint for the future of primary care in the USA

Here is the reference: https://www.aafp.org/pubs/fpm/issues/2024/0700/addressing-social-needs.html

You will notice that the article is about a primary care practice model that addresses the Social Determinants of Health [SDOH].

The last paragraph in the article hints at the true value of this business model. The heading reads:
THE OPPOSITE OF BURNOUT

Working in this new, hybrid system allows the doctors to reclaim their primary role in patient care and reconnect with meaning and purpose in their practice of Medicine.

Note writing AI will provide massive short-term relief to stressed-out physicians.

This technology can disconnect the detail and quality of your notes from your personal data entry skills. It will get you home sooner and eliminate pajama time.

Unfortunately, after a short break from the stress of documentation, things will only get worse.

After the A.I. implementation, your employer will make an inevitable change to your work flow that will change burnout forever.