Analyses of burn-out among medical professionals and suggested solutions—a narrative review

Abstract

: The increasing complexity of healthcare delivery in the United States and the financial challenges of meeting the escalating costs pose significant pressures on physicians, healthcare providers, and their teams. These various demands put physicians at high-risk for extreme mental fatigue, which affects their occupational performance and their patient’s well-being, and the healthcare delivery systems in general. Moreover, burned-out doctors are at risk exiting healthcare altogether leading to reduction patients’ access and continuity of care. In this paper, we performed a selective review of the literature related to health care associated burnout and utilize double-loop learning to offer opinions and selected solutions for physicians and healthcare organizations for interventions to minimize burnout and reverse its occurrence in the workplace and at home. Moreover, this paper will analyze the significant contributors to burnout, such as a lack of proper understanding, diversity and workplace factors, absence of organizational support systems, and health record-related burdens associated with 21st century medicine. For these reasons, the authors recommend a multifaceted approach that includes flexible scheduling, mental health education, and support systems. Other intervention areas include home-work balance, organizational interventions, and financial remedies for rewarding performance - by altering incentivization schedules. The approach considers a single and double-loop approach for medical establishments and their respective infrastructures