Improving the practice of medicine for physicians has been a priority for many in the healthcare industry — and efforts are finally beginning to pay off.
Physician burnout is on the decline, with burnout rates falling below 50% for the first time since 2020, according to a July 9 report from the American Medical Association. Pittsburgh-based UMPC has seen significant success in regard to provider wellness, and Jennifer Berliner, MD, UPMC's director of physician well-being, has led that charge.
"The fact that there are jobs like mine in many different organizations throughout the country is a testament to the idea that people are very focused on trying to maintain or improve the practice of medicine despite all the stressors we're facing," Dr. Berliner told Becker's.
According to Dr. Berliner, treating existing burnout and dissatisfaction through mental health support opportunities and programming is only part of the solution. Addressing chief complaints of physicians and developing new approaches to eliminate the biggest sources of stress for providers to prevent burnout before it happens is key.
"There's so much opportunity to change the way we practice medicine to improve upon it. So hopefully, we won't just need those resources to fix problems once they develop, but actually head them off before they happen," Dr. Berliner said. "How do we innovate in the practice of medicine to make it easier? Medicine is always going to be hard, but what can we implement in large systems to make it easier for people to do the work they love and follow their passion without getting bogged down in paperwork?"
Dr. Berliner and UPMC Enterprises, the venture arm of UPMC, are working to improve the practice of medicine systemwide.
"We're integrating ambient AI to help our physicians write their notes easier and pay more attention to patients while they're in the clinic," Dr. Berliner told Becker's.
Dr. Berliner believes these innovations can improve healthcare from both the provider and patient perspective.
"If providers are working at their best and we're providing them with the best tools to deliver the best care, it's the patient who's ultimately going to win, get better care, be more satisfied, and have a better experience," Dr. Berliner said.