The American Hospital Association released a playbook to help healthcare leaders deal with physician burnout.
Burnout, defined by the association as a "a long-term stress reaction," is common among U.S. healthcare providers, with 44 percent of U.S. physicians reporting feeling burned out in a 2019 Medscape report that polled 15,000-plus of them. In March, the ECRI Institute listed "Burnout and its effect on patient safety" as one of the top 10 patient safety issues of 2019.
Leadership must commit to relieving burnout among providers by working to change workplace culture and engaging caregivers, the association said.
The "Well-Being Playbook: A Guide for Hospital and Health System Leaders" includes seven key steps for addressing burnout and offers real-world case examples of successful interventions.
The association suggests healthcare leaders form a team to go over the steps outlined in the playbook and carry out the steps under the leadership of a selected champion.