Physician Well-Being: Organizational Strategies for Physician Burnout

Until recently, most initiatives to address physician burnout have focused on improving the resilience of individual physicians. These measures are necessary but insufficient since it is now recognized that organizations have a major role in causing, preventing, and mitigating physician burnout. Burnout must be addressed by organizational change. The first steps to improving clinician well-being are measurement and monitoring. Several validated scales are available to assess well-being. Results of assessments can be used to engage clinicians in open conversations on issues and potential solutions. Specific leadership behaviors and positive organizational cultures decrease burnout and enhance engagement. There must be an institutional commitment to enhancing physician autonomy and transparent communication, improving the meaning of work, reducing administrative and regulatory burdens, and reducing the stigma related to seeking care.