Doctor burnout has always been a bit of a problem. When doctors feel overwhelmed and burned out, they may feel disillusioned or emotionally exhausted. This can have an impact on their performance. After all, when you meet with a physician, you expect them to be alert and focused. A doctor who is feeling burned out may make mistakes that they wouldn’t have made if their emotional and mental state was a bit different.
Unfortunately, recent studies have shown that burnout is becoming more and more common. It was previously declining for six years in a row, but began to rise again in 2020 and into 2021. For example, burnout levels were clocked at 45.5% back in 2011, and they had fallen to 38.2% at the beginning of 2020. However, in 2021, the levels had jumped way up to 62.8%. The stark turnaround shows that there can be a lot of issues in the medical community.
Staffing shortages may play a role
One thing to consider when looking at burnout rates is that there are often staffing shortages and nursing shortages. Those who are working in the industry may have to work long hours or take on more responsibilities than they normally would. This can feel taxing and difficult in any profession, but it is especially a problem in the medical profession, where people’s health and lives are often on the line.
This isn’t necessarily to blame a doctor for feeling burned out, as they may just be in a bad position that they had nothing to do with. But it is important to recognize that medical mistakes can happen at a greater rate in that situation, and patients who feel that their doctor was negligent may need to look into all of the legal options they have.