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They need to recognize that they are under stress, do something about it, prioritize time commitments to promote a positive work-life balance, and be receptive to receiving outside help and assistance from family, friends, peers and organizational staffers. Given the results from the present survey, it’s just not working the way it should. Be proactive A second resource is the proactive organization. One of the most disturbing results from the survey is that only 16 percent of the physicians felt that their organization was providing the support they need. Support can come from many different directions. The first issue is to address time demands and capacity. Using nurse practitioners or physician assistants can make a significant impact in reducing some of the clinical load. Administrative support staffers can help reduce the burden of non clinical responsibilities and administrative needs. Being conscious and creative in addressing time commitments and on-call requirements will help reduce work loads and help physicians carve out time for wellness-related activities during the day as a means of relieving stress. Physicians have also requested that the organization provide exercise facilities on-site. These facilities must be open and available to accommodate the demanding time schedule of the physician. It would be helpful to block out specific times on the physician schedule to make it happen. Emotional support is a key issue. The goal is to recognize that physicians are under stress and make it easy, convenient and comfortable for them to seek help in a confidential environment. Listen to what they have to say and provide advice and resources to help them better adjust to their surroundings. Providing resources to help physicians adjust to the stresses in their environment will go a long way toward improving overall satisfaction, energy, engagement, productivity and care efficiency. Services can include providing programs on stress management, time management and business management. Many of these programs can be offered though a physician wellness committee, human resources or medical staff services. Individualized services through a coaching or mentoring program can be particularly successful by allowing one-on-one interaction providing more personalized recommendations. These services can be provided internally or through contracted services such as a physician EAP. In some cases the situation may require more comprehensive counseling, therapy or recommendations for behavioral modification services. Physicians have dedicated their lives to the practice of medicine. They work hard and sacrifice deeply in their quest to provide the best patient care. Economic realities have added additional stresses that amplify the business side of medicine, which many physicians feel are an encroachment on their practices. Some grin and bear it, some change practice models, some retire early and some change careers. Physicians are a precious resource that may soon be in short supply. We need to do all we can to help them.
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