RESET as a Primary Care Redesign: Differences in Burnout, Fulfillment, and Workplace Experience in a Large Integrated...

Burnout among primary care physicians is widespread and associated with reduced quality of care. System-level interventions that simplify workflows, clarify priorities, and restore autonomy may help address contributors to burnout. RESET (Reward Efficiency. Set Priorities. Empower Teams.) is a physician-designed primary care redesign that links results with meaningful flexibility in how physicians practice. This study compared well-being and workplace perceptions between physicians participating in RESET and physicians in traditional practice models.

This cross-sectional study analyzed 2024 Joy and Meaning in Medicine and Physician Opinion Survey data from primary care physicians in a large integrated delivery system. Physicians were categorized into RESET or control groups, with RESET physicians further classified by duration on the program. Independent 2-sample t tests and analysis of variance tests compared mean scores across groups.

RESET physicians reported significantly higher scores in 32 of the 35 survey questions (P < .05) across 5 survey domains of interest: including Joy and Meaning in Medicine, quality of care and patient care experience, health and wellness, implementing change, and overall practice experience. Physicians with longer duration on the RESET program demonstrated higher scores across all domains.

Participation in RESET was associated with lower burnout and higher professional fulfillment, with the most favorable ratings among physicians with longer duration in RESET. These findings suggest that a system-level redesign that clarifies priorities, reduces operational friction, and restores autonomy may improve primary care physicians' work experience. Longitudinal studies are warranted to evaluate effects on patient outcomes, utilization, and costs.