Physician well-being is critical in healthcare delivery, but systemic and cultural barriers remain for those with disabilities, one physician wrote in a June 24 article published in JAMA.
The medical community could improve the scope of physician well-being discussions by including disability, Dr. Quon, an internal medicine specialist at the Ottawa Hospital in Ontario, wrote. Well-being has increasingly come into focus in the healthcare workforce, particularly in conversations surrounding burnout and mental health.
With an aging population and workforce, disabilities become more prevalent, Dr. Quon said. Disabilities affect 15% of people in the world. In addition, 3% of U.S. physicians and 7.5% of U.S. residents self-identify as having a disability, although it is likely underreported because of stigma.
These physicians are also more likely to experience worse mental health compared to physicians without disabilities.
The "National Plan for Health Workforce Well-Being," published collaboratively with the U.S.-based National Academy of Medicine, addresses important issues in physician burnout — but not disability, Dr. Quon said. His recommendations include addressing flexible scheduling and sick leave for physicians with disabilities.
"This perspective recognizes the intersection between diversity, equity, and inclusion to wellness," he said of the well-being plan. "It acknowledges the importance of addressing system factors that undermine equity but does not address barriers and discrimination faced by physicians with disabilities."