Health systems across the country need actionable and practical solutions to lessen burnout, improve job satisfaction among clinicians, and develop long term sustainability for their practices—all while making sure their patients are cared for and treated well. Each system has its own unique challenges and burdens to address.
Here is a collection of AMA news articles featuring physician leaders who are adopting strategies that offer increased support and better care for their teams. They all practice in organizations that are 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.
Atlantic Health System has integrated a systemwide well-being strategy
- As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Atlantic Health System established a committee that was largely focused on physician well-being. It was very effective for the need at that moment and for the time it was in place. But with the health system’s goal to be the best place for physicians to practice in New Jersey, they recognized that the work is broader than what could have been done through just that committee structure. Atlantic Health System needed new well-being leadership. Read on to find out how Shai Gavi, DO, and colleagues developed a functional well-being approach.
Confluence Health embraces a book club to help fine-tune leadership
- Leadership assessment and support was defined as a priority, helping physicians to further connect to the Confluence Health values while also connecting with colleagues and fellow leaders. One of the small leadership groups that was created to support this need at Confluence Health is a leadership “book” club that is held each quarter to expand on leadership qualities and information for anyone at the health system. Learn more about how efforts including the book club are helping to lessen burnout.
Lehigh Valley Health Network uses AMA tools to help reduce burnout
- When Amy A. Jibilian, MD, a pediatrician, took on the role of chief wellness officer (CWO) at Lehigh Valley Health Network in 2023, there was already a solid foundation in place to address the epidemic of burnout and promote physician and nonphysician provider well-being. This work began under the leadership of previous chief wellness officers along with the Well-Being Council and Wellness Committee. As she began her new journey as CWO, she quickly realized physician burnout was an extremely complicated and multi-faceted dilemma. Learn more about how Dr. Lehigh is leveraging AMA resources.
Marshfield Clinic Health System gathers data on burnout to find applicable solutions
- Physicians are at the forefront of patient care, often working long hours under intense pressure, which can lead to emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and a diminished sense of feeling valued. By systematically measuring burnout, health systems can identify the problem and target areas for improvement to ensure a supportive work environment and sustain overall well-being for physicians. That’s why Marshfield Clinic Health System chose to measure with the AMA. Read more to find out how Marshfield gathers the data and then how it is used to solve these problems.
Sanford Health takes direct actions connected to survey data to improve job satisfaction
- As retirement age approaches, physicians naturally begin to think about stepping down or scaling back, but recent data from an 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. At Sanford Health in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 35.5% of physicians reported intending to leave within two years, mirroring statistics at the national level. Discover how Sanford is taking concrete steps to improve job satisfaction and reduce physicians’ desire to depart or reduce their work hours.
Texas Children’s Pediatrics builds sense of feeling valued
- In 2022, 55% of pediatricians reported experiencing burnout, and a staggering 48% said they did not feel valued. Those statistics came from more than 13,000 physicians and nonphysician providers who participated in the AMA’s Organizational Biopsy®. Leaders at Texas Children’s Pediatrics believe they have found a way to reduce burnout among physicians while improving their sense of feeling valued, and it comes down to one word: communication. Learn more about how Texas Children’s is using communication to help tackle these major issues.
Download the 2024 AMA Joy in Medicine™ magazine (log into your AMA account to view) to see whether your organization is part of the prestigious group of 130 organizations across 35 states that are currently recognized for their dedication to physician well-being.
Abstract submissions for the 2025 American Conference on Physician Health—which takes place Sept. 11–13 in Boston—are now open through Feb. 14. Physicians, medical students, residents and fellows are invited to submit abstracts on strategies that prioritize physician well-being, clinical efficiency practices and systemic changes that promote a healthy work environment in health care. Inspire change today and submit an abstract.