Can MU Cause Physician Burnout?
By Katie Wike, contributing writer
According to a study conducted by Studer Group, Meaningful Use regulations may be contributing to increasing numbers of burned out physicians.
Could regulations like Meaningful Use (MU) be to blame for the high number of physicians reporting feeling burned out? Researchers from the Studer Group say 90 percent of physicians have felt provider burnout. An even more startling statistic, nearly two-thirds of them say the burnout sometimes pushes them to consider leaving medicine.
EHR Intelligence reports feedback from providers shows CMS EHR Incentive Programs are putting too great a burden on providers. The study notes that providers are more likely to experience bouts of provider burnout if:
- they feel like they lack control
- are experiencing too much change too quickly
- are feeling a downward pressure in compensation
- are sensing disconnect between themselves and their patients
“As a nation and as individual health systems, we can work with physicians to solve the burnout crisis,” says Quint Studer in a press release from Studer. “In fact, it’s even better than can — we will solve it. I believe the recent changes in healthcare have created the sense of urgency we need to finally put the needed energy behind the issue.
“Yes, there are many complicated and intertwined factors that are plunging too many physicians into a state of depression and burnout: uncertainty created by the ever-changing landscape of healthcare, a lack of control over their future, highly stressful jobs, time constraints that keep them from forming meaningful patient relationships, salary concerns, and the feeling of being stuck in a career they no longer enjoy.”
An accompanying infographic to the study notes 41 percent of physicians with 10-20 years of experience had the highest rate of burnout symptoms. Two-thirds say they don’t have the tools and resources to handle burnout and more than half say their leaders are not taking the proper steps to actively prevent burnout.