NAM collaborative calls for research to address clinician burnout

The National Academy of Medicine Action Collaborative on Clinician Well-Being and Resilience, whose sponsors include the AHA, yesterday issued a discussion paper calling for research to identify the organizational and health system factors that place physicians, nurses and other health care professionals at increased risk for burnout; the implications for health care outcomes; and effective interventions to improve clinician well-being. “The U.S. health care system is rapidly changing in an effort to deliver better care, improve health, and lower costs while providing care for an aging population with high rates of chronic disease and co-morbidities,” notes the paper, whose co-authors include AHA Chief Medical Officer Jay Bhatt, D.O. “…Navigating these changes are health care professionals, whose daily work is critical to the success of health care improvement. Unfortunately, as a result of these changes and resulting added pressures, many HCPs are burned out, a syndrome characterized by a high degree of emotional exhaustion and high depersonalization (i.e., cynicism), and a low sense of personal accomplishment from work.” On July 14, the collaborative will host its first public meeting to solicit feedback and highlight research and examples of promising approaches to promoting clinician well-being. To attend in person or via webcast, register here.