Sunday November 29, 2009
Is burnout affecting your practice? A recent survey of thousands of members of the American College of Surgeons, published by the Annals of Surgery, found that roughly 9% of surgeons fear they have committed a serious medical error in the past three months of their career.
According to The Wall Street Journal Health Blog, those surgeons who have committed recent medical errors are more likely to suffer from burnout and depression, the survey found. However, it has not been determined if the errors caused the depression, or if the depression led to the medical errors.
Of the nearly 8,000 surgeons who responded to the survey, about 40% described themselves as "burned out", and 30% have suffered from depression, according to The Wall Street Journal.
If you're feeling intense stress in your practice, you're not alone. However, it's important to be aware of the effect it's having on your practice, and possibly your patients. While practicing medicine is a stressful business these days, over-working yourself to the point of committing even one error could create even more stress and problems for your career.
Potential consequences of an error could include patient injury or death, a lengthy, draining malpractice suit, and negative publicity for your practice. Therefore, it is paramount to be proactive when it comes to stress and burnout. There may be things you can do to at least decrease the impact somewhat, including:
Adjust your hours
Evaluate your practice management staff and make adjustments if needed
Consult with another surgeon or sub-specialist for particularly complicated cases
If you are a solo practitioner, you may want to seek additional cross-coverage to help lighten your call responsibilities
Take an extended vacation or leave of absence
If none of the above improves your situation or alleviates your stress or burnout, it may be time to consider searching for a new practice opportunity that offers a better quality of life and practice.
More: Managing Job Stress | About.com Guide to Stress | WSJ Health BlogSurgeons, Medical Errors, and BurnoutSource: www.about.com
View this post on my blog: http://travelnursesuccess.com/surgeons-medical-errors-and-burnout
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