Compassion Fatigue in Emergency Medicine: Current Perspectives

Compassion fatigue (CF), or loss of ability to empathize or feel compassion for others for whom one cares, is a growing concern for emergency physicians (EP). EPs, by the nature of their jobs, work under unpredictable conditions at odd hours with high levels of exposure to traumatic events. They are placed under substantial psychological, physical, and cognitive pressure, with little opportunity to recover or reflect. CF occurs when this workplace stress leads to feelings of being overwhelmed, helpless, unsupported, and unable to cope. Additionally, primary traumatic stress from threats of workplace violence and secondary traumatic stress (STS) from witnessing the suffering of others increase the likelihood of developing CF. Unchecked, this progression to CF causes reduction in quality of care to patients, reduction in patient satisfaction, increased levels of EP depression and anxiety, increased levels of EP substance use, and increased attrition from the specialty. To truly improve CF, individuals and organizations should be aware of the contributors to CF: namely, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, primary and STS, and personal achievement. EPs should maximize their resilience to CF by using cognitive behavioral techniques and mindfulness, taking care of their physical health, seeking meaning and development within their work, developing hobbies outside of work, and creating boundaries between work and home. Organizations should actively address the known drivers of physician burnout: workload and job demands, efficiency and resources, meaning in work, culture and values, control and flexibility, work community, and work-life integration. Organizations should also provide adequate safety within facilities to reduce the threat of primary trauma and should supply adequate support and destigmatization for post-traumatic symptoms for EPs suffering from STS.