Physician health: beyond wellness to happiness

Physician health and wellness.

Physician health and wellness is a critical issue gaining national attention because of the high prevalence of physician burnout. Pediatricians and pediatric trainees experience burnout at levels equivalent to other medical specialties, highlighting a need for more effective efforts to promote health and well-being in the pediatric community. This report will provide an overview of physician bu...

Physician health and wellness.

BACKGROUND Impaired physician health can have a direct impact on patient health care and safety. In the past, problems of alcoholism and substance abuse among physicians have received more attention than other conditions-usually in the form of discipline. While patient safety is paramount, the medical profession may be more successful in achieving the required standards by fostering a culture c...

Ten commandments of physician wellness.

Recently, in talking to a group of residents about burnout, I asked if they knew anyone in medicine who was happy. Only one of thirty-some aspiring doctors thought that one could find happiness in the practice of medicine. I was saddened for them, and what they saw in their future. I have worked in Physician Health for over 10 years as chair of a physician health committee. At times, I have fel...

Physician health: beyond work-life balance.

Physician wellness: a missing quality indicator.

When physicians are unwell, the performance of health-care systems can be suboptimum. Physician wellness might not only benefit the individual physician, it could also be vital to the delivery of high-quality health care. We review the work stresses faced by physicians, the barriers to attending to wellness, and the consequences of unwell physicians to the individual and to health-care systems....