Stress and burnout are more than workforce concerns; they are patient safety issues. Research shows a clear correlation between healthcare provider stress and medical errors. For instance, Zabin et al, a 2023 systematic review, confirmed that job stress negatively influences patient safety culture. Garcia & Abreu et al, a separate meta-analysis of 21 studies, found that burnout is consistently linked to worsening safety outcomes. For perioperative leaders, these findings reinforce what is already evident in daily practice: caregivers distracted by personal or professional stress are at greater risk of making errors that compromise patient care.
