The alarming rates of physician burnout are beginning to decline, according to an exclusive survey from the AMA.
This progress came as the deadliest and most trying part of the COVID-19 public health emergency receded and many health systems stepped up efforts to improve physician well-being, but it is clear that the journey is far from over. The ongoing need to enhance the well-being of physicians remains critical, ensuring that those who dedicate their lives to caring for others get the support and resources they need and deserve. It is paramount to sustaining a robust and effective health care system.
As the leader in physician well-being, the AMA is reducing physician burnout by removing administrative burdens and providing real-world solutions to help doctors rediscover the Joy in Medicine™.
More than 12,400 responses from physicians across 31 states were received from 81 health systems and organizations who participated in the AMA Organizational Biopsy® last year. The AMA national physician comparison report—which is exclusive data to the AMA that is not published anywhere else—reflects 2023 trends in six key performance indicators—job satisfaction, job stress, burnout, intent to leave an organization, feeling valued by an organization and total hours spent per week on work-related activities (known as “time spend”).
The purpose of the aggregated data is to provide a national summary of organizational well-being and to serve as a comparison for other health care organizations. The results may be limited by the health systems that chose to participate.
Here is what health care organizations have learned about physician burnout from this exclusive AMA survey and what members of the AMA Health System Program—which provides enterprise solutions to equip leadership, physicians and care teams with resources to help drive the future of medicine—are doing to improve physicians’ well-being.
Come back each week as this series grows and we explore physician burnout’s impact on gender, intent to leave or reduce hours, vacation, time spent in the EHR and barriers to teamwork.
Physician burnout rate drops below 50% for first time in 4 years
- After skyrocketing to a record-high 62.8% in 2021, exclusive survey data from the AMA shows doctor burnout has fallen below 50% for the first time since 2020. Continued efforts are essential to address the root causes of physician burnout and ensure that doctors receive the support they need to thrive. That requires attention to key performance indicators of physician well-being.
Burnout falls, but still hits these 6 physician specialties most
- Picture a pediatrician whose days were once filled with the joy of helping children who is now struggling to find meaning in medicine. Imagine an emergency physician, the epitome of calm under pressure, feeling the weight of unrelenting stress. This is doctor burnout, and certain physician specialties have become particularly vulnerable to this pervasive problem, according to an exclusive survey from the AMA. Learn more about which six physician specialties have the most burnout, and the steps Texas Children’s Pediatrics is taking to improve well-being.
How long physicians have been in practice can signal burnout risk
- As physicians advance through their careers in medicine, from the rigorous demands of residency to the relentless pressure of long-term practice, a pattern has emerged. The number of years a physician has been in practice may be a telling indicator of burnout risk, according to an exclusive survey from the AMA. Find out how Ochsner Health is taking steps to reduce physician burnout and improve job satisfaction among all years in practice.
In 6 specialties, desire to step away or scale back is common
- As retirement age approaches, physicians naturally begin to think about stepping down or scaling back, but recent data from the AMA survey shows that more than one-third of all physicians are considering leaving or reducing their work hours. Alarmingly, this includes a sizable number of younger or midcareer physicians. Learn what steps Sanford Health is taking to improve job satisfaction and reduce physicians’ desire to depart or reduce their work hours.
Too many physicians don’t get to unplug, unwind on vacation
- Taking vacations and paid time off (PTO) are key restorative activities in the general population. The same can be said for physicians. But the problem is many physicians think of PTO as “pretend time off” and face too many barriers to taking that much-needed vacation. While the share of physicians taking four weeks or more of vacation inched up in 2023, an exclusive AMA survey showed that nearly half—48.9%—took three weeks or less, with 5% reporting that they took no vacation days in the previous 12 months. Find out how Confluence Health reduces barriers to physicians taking the time off they need and deserve to unlock a restful vacation.
Despite drop in burnout, women physicians still feeling burden
- In a disturbing but consistent trend, women physicians continue to be more likely to experience symptoms of burnout, feel less valued at work and have lower job satisfaction than their male counterparts, even while they’re less likely to say they intend to leave their current positions, exclusive AMA survey data shows. Discover some ways Washington Permanente Medical Group is working to reduce the gender gap in physician burnout.
Burnout on the way down, but “pajama time” stands still
- Physicians are increasingly burdened by excessive “pajama time,” sacrificing personal and family time to complete administrative tasks outside of regular work hours. Exacerbated by the growing demands of EHRs, this leads to heightened levels of physician burnout and takes a toll on doctors’ well-being and overall job satisfaction. But this isn’t new. It has been an ongoing issue for years and physicians aren’t finding a reduction in the time spent on the EHR outside of work. Learn how Sutter Health has helped doctors cut pajama time by 14%.
Letting doctors delegate can help reduce physician burnout
- The dynamics of effective health care rely on the collaboration and cooperation among physicians and other health professionals. But when barriers to teamwork are present, the consequences can be severe, leading to increased levels of physician burnout, according to an exclusive survey from the AMA. Addressing the barriers to teamwork and finding solutions is essential for fostering a supportive and efficient medical environment. Find out how Northwell Health enables physicians to smartly use teamwork to complete routine tasks so doctors have more face time with patients.
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One great way for health systems and organizations to tackle physician burnout is to take part in the AMA Joy in Medicine™ Health System Recognition Program, which is an initiative that offers a framework that provides a strategic pathway and a community of leaders to foster and accelerate well-being efforts.
Meanwhile, the AMA STEPS Forward® open-access toolkits offer innovative strategies that allow physicians and their staff to thrive in the new health care environment. These resources can help you prevent physician burnout, create the organizational foundation for joy in medicine and improve practice efficiency.
