Consensus report shows burnout prevalent in healthcare clinicians

Editor's Note

Clinician burnout is affecting between one-third and one-half of nurses and physicians and 40% to 60% of medical students and residents, according to a new consensus report by 32 institutions and foundations, including Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.

Among the ways to fight burnout discussed in the report:

• Tackling clinician burnout early in professional development
• Reducing burnout with well-designed healthcare technologies, such as electronic health record systems
• Decreasing administrative burdens and clinician distractions by federal and state governments and other payors and regulators
• Reducing the stigma for clinicians seeking help for psychological distress and making assistance more easily available.

The report, “Taking Action Against Clinician Burnout: A Systems Approach to Professional Well-Being,” may be purchased from The National Academies Press.