Is Technology Alleviating Or Increasing Burnout For Physicians?

After reading an eye-opening recent article in The New York Times about physician “burnout,” I began pondering why this unfortunate phenomenon is so widespread. A main culprit may be technology. While technology feeds our society’s need for impulsivity, it has changed the way that physicians must practice and adjusting to the technological changes can be challenging at times.

I entered the podiatric medical profession during an interesting time period. Electronic medical records (EMR) and digital X-rays were just beginning to emerge. When I first began clinicals, people were still writing notes by hand and keeping medical records in charts scattered throughout the hospital ward. It was not until residency when “paper charting” was no more and every medical facility that our residency was affiliated with had adopted some form of EMR.

Just as anything else, the first editions were not without shortcomings. As a provider, you quickly form your opinions about which system is the best. Some systems are more user-friendly than others and providers may have to learn how to operate a variety of software depending upon where they practice. Remembering log-ins and passwords to all of the systems is a challenge in itself. There is a much greater learning curve to using EMR as opposed to handwritten or dictated notes, but once you form appropriate templates and learn the ins and outs of the software, it gets better. Electronic medical records force doctors to be able to transcribe by typing quickly. The EMR also forces us to be somewhat tech-savvy, which requires a subset of skills that many of us unfortunately do not possess.  

There is another significant impact that technology has had on the way that doctors must practice. With an abundance of information being available on the Internet right at the patient’s fingertips, patients sometimes come to your office with a self-diagnosis, prepared to argue their case as if they are in front of a jury. This may lead to practicing defensively. It is not uncommon for patients to present with tablets and other mobile devices connected to wi-fi, typing in their diagnosis into Internet search engines as soon as the words come out of your mouth. This poses a problem and a breakdown in communication. As opposed to listening to the doctor’s recommendations, patients are oftentimes preoccupied with non-peer reviewed, non-scientific, non-credible sources. I agree that it is necessary to be proactive in your care but there is a time and place.        

As a result of patients having immediate access to things in today’s society, we have to practice medicine the same way in order to adapt. For example, surgery centers are in demand and patients expect outpatient surgery. They cannot fathom having to stay overnight in a hospital for the same procedures that may have required days of hospital stay in the past.

A major contributor to physicians’ dismay may be that we have to accomplish more in less time. For example, information is so readily available that we can now accomplish in one visit what used to take at least two visits. However, heavy patient demand does not allow for longer appointment time slots in order to accommodate for a detailed explanation of findings.

As a resident, I had the privilege of taking a wellness course, much like the class described in the previously mentioned newspaper article.  The Chief of Surgery at our hospital required us to take the seminar. I must admit that at first my co-residents and I were skeptical as we were so preoccupied with our resident workload and not cognizant of emotional wellness.

To our great surprise, the meeting with the “life advisor” proved to be not just another after-hours meeting but was truly valuable. I am grateful to have had that experience as it has helped me then and now. The speaker emphasized the importance of setting goals and rejoicing in small victories. In the healthcare profession, you interact with numerous individuals on a daily basis and learning how to best cope with the diversity of various individuals is a skill that should have further emphasis during one’s training to become a podiatric physician.     

Practicing medicine definitely has its rewarding moments but the health and wellness of physicians must be considerations as medicine continues to evolve, especially with the profession’s high demand due to the aging population. The human body takes time to heal and there are standards of care that we must address, regardless of society’s trend toward impulsivity.

Dr. Ryans is completing her third year of residency at SSM DePaul Health Center in St. Louis.

Dr. McCord retired from practice in 2008 at the Centralia Medical Center in Centralia, Wash.