Are You Feeling the Burn?

The January 2020 edition of Podiatry Today included an article by my colleague, Jennifer Spector, DPM, on the topic of physician burnout.  

The stresses of building a career, raising a family, family responsibilities, paying student loans, battling with insurance companies and CMS, reimbursements being cut, having to be more productive with fewer resources, challenges with electronic medical records, working for a group or trying to run a business/practice, and generally being in fight or flight mode constantly—these are some examples of stresses that become a recipe for burnout.  

Never-ending stress derives from multiple sources. Pressure to be a competent physician or provider is among the easier aspects of our lives, as we in general are self-starters who have been well trained in academics and in post-graduate training.  

It is probably an easier solution to get a chronic smoker to quit than it will be to reverse the trend of burnout among all health care providers if medicine keeps trending the way it has over the course of the last 15–20 years.  

The real problem is not medicine per se. Being able to practice medicine the way we have been trained or even previously practiced has become the perceived problem. We are not the problem.  

When I began writing this blog, I promised to share personal experiences and information as my career path evolves. Without getting into specifics, I alluded to opportunities that have presented themselves, and how I have responded to their respective call.

Among those opportunities has been becoming part of an organization called MD Coaches. My initial reason for accepting the invitation to be part of MD Coaches was that I have experienced periods when I was feeling the symptoms of burnout. I have also been fascinated by human behavior and psychology, among other subjects. I also enjoy sharing knowledge and mentoring when appropriate.

Peer-to-peer mentoring and coaching is an obvious short-term solution to burnout and extended periods of stress. The creation of a network of physician coaches that is willing and able to help fellow providers (especially newer physicians) navigate the challenges faced, is needed and potentially invaluable. I realize it is not only physicians who experience burnout.  

As previously stated, no area or specialty within medicine is immune to burnout and the need for peer-to-peer support represents a proactive measure. Sometimes just having someone to talk to, especially one who has been in your shoes, can provide the support and insight to weather tough times. MD Coaches, as mentioned, is one organization that offers such mentoring but the need exists beyond physicians.

Maintaining a positive mindset and attitude is not always easy, especially when stress is overwhelming. Positivity must come from within and is really a personal philosophy that must be adopted for self-preservation.

It is a difficult proposition at best, but remember, spring always follows winter! Don’t look back and don’t try to control the future. Living in the moment may sound cliched, but the reality is that it’s all you’ve got. Be there.  

Dr. Desmond Bell is the Founder and President of “The Save A Leg, Save A Life” Foundation, a multidisciplinary non-profit organization dedicated to the reduction in lower extremity amputations and improving wound healing outcomes through education, evidence-based methodology and community outreach. He also serves as Chief Medical Officer of Omeza, an evidence-based medical technology company and consumer healthcare products company initially focused on healing chronic wounds and preventing their recurrence. In 2020, he joined MD Coaches as an Executive Physician Coach, serving as a peer to peer mentor.