Doctors are burned out. The statistics are frightening. The suicide rate among physicians is staggering. According to the American Psychiatry Association, they are twice as likely to die by their own hand compared to the average American.
The research cites many causes: long hours, electronic medical records (E.M.R.s), sicker patients, increasing drug prices, not feeling appreciated, and insurers dictating how to practice medicine. All of these issues point to a common trend—physicians are feeling overwhelmed and disheartened.
Follow Your Mom’s Advice to Reduce Burnout
As patients, we may feel as defeated as our overworked physicians. Our hearts go out to them but what can we possibly do to help our burned-out doctors? Despite the bleak outlook, I believe there is a simple solution—we can start by thanking them.
You might wonder how something our moms taught us when we were little could possibly fix such a heart-wrenching problem. But please bear with me while I share a personal story with you.
My Personal Story
A few months ago, I had to have Mohs surgery to remove skin cancer above my right eyebrow. I was scared because I knew what was going to happen. My doctor would have to slice layers of skin to make sure he had clear margins and then make a flap to cover the resulting hole. And of course, I’d be wide awake the whole time.
After I asked my doctor to say a prayer with me, he started the surgery. But instead of being frightened, I was completely calm. The reason—he was like a Zen master. He lovingly reassured me every step of the way.
As he yanked on my skin to stretch it into a flap, he asked me about my life. I shared my experience of having worked at UCLA Hospital in college. I realized how hard his job was and how demanding patients could be. Sadly, as a doctor, I surmised that he often saw people at their worst. And I bet that their lousy attitude got to him sometimes. He agreed, but not as much as other doctors who had patients with chronic conditions. At least he could remove the cancer, and for the most part, patients were good to go.
A Simple Gesture Made All the Difference
I thanked him for shepherding me through the surgery with minimal trauma. Then I decided to take it a step further. Once I healed, I wrote him a thank-you note sharing how much I appreciated his tender, loving care. He read the note and told me that I had made his day. After I hugged him, I noticed there were tears in his eyes. I, too, was moved to tears. A simple gesture of kindness made all the difference. I hoped it would inspire him to continue being the caring, compassionate doctor that I knew and loved. Because selfishly, I didn’t want him to become one of the burned out members of his profession.
References
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/08/opinion/sunday/hospitals-doctors-nurses-burnout.html