Depression. Exhaustion. Dissatisfaction. An overall sense of failure… these are just some of the symptoms that can leave physicians feeling empty and unable to heal their client base.

When push comes to shove, all of this fatigue and emotion affects the care that is being delivered. It can lead to misdiagnosis, malpractice lawsuits, medical errors, and more. All of these can seriously affect the patient and the provider’s ability to practice long term.

Let’s focus on you… the provider. Physician burnout takes a toll on your mental health. If it goes unaddressed, physician burnout leaves you feeling unable, ill-equipped, or like a failure as a provider all together.

Recognizing the signs of fatigue and overwhelming stress in yourself and those around you is the first step towards receiving help. If a physician arounds you begins to talk increasingly negative about patients, colleagues, or themselves, this may be a sign that they are losing faith in their own ability to make a difference. Listen closely to the words you say and to what those around you are speaking.

The ACOI presents us with this case study to put physician burnout into perspective…

Sam is in his 2^nd year as an Internal Medicine Resident at Carle Health Systems. He is 28 years old, he is married, and he and his wife are expecting the arrival of their first child. Among his colleagues he is known to be a hardworking medical student who spends an exorbitant amount of time at the hospital due to his interest in critical care.

One day, Sam gets into an argument that quickly becomes heated with a 3^rd year surgical resident in regards to a critical care case. The ChM of Surgery is called in to investigate the concern. In this particular critical care case, a 26 year old woman with complicated Crohn’s disease passed away due to sepsis. This patient had been in Carle’s ICU for two weeks after experiencing surgery for a resection from an obstruction.

After all of this has happened, Carle’s Chief Internal Medicine doctors finds out that Sam has not been participating in learning opportunities. Other residents have noticed that he is becoming increasingly aggressive with other medical students and the nursing staff finds him inappropriate. His wife has also made remarks that Sam has a sullen mood while at home and he doesn’t seem to “there” even when he is. Sam denies that there are any problems. When pressed by the Chief of IM, Sam states that he feels wore out, that he has lost his sense of direction, and that he has accomplished little. Sam’s actions and attitude towards his colleagues were likely due to him feeling burned out and needing help.

Provider Burnout Resources

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