Physician burnout can be prevented by increasing efficiency and eliminating unnecessary work, ultimately allowing physicians to focus on their patients while exemplifying wellness within their practices. The American Medical Association recently released a guide outline strategies providers can use to save time and improve operations.
Here are three ways physicians can save time in the workplace, according to the AMA:
- Reduce unnecessary work. Changes to workflow across many areas of a practice, including laboratory services, information technology and health information management, can help reduce physician burnout.
- Allocate necessary work. Allowing nonphysician team members to handle additional responsibilities can both save time and lower practice costs. These additional responsibilities can be shared by medical assistants during both rooming and discharge.
- Gain the support of organizational leadership. Time-saving efforts most effectively come from the top down, meaning organizational leaders have the most power to implement large-scale changes. Physicians can appeal to these leaders using key messaging regarding patient satisfaction, cost reduction and physician burnout.