Wellness: The Other Side of the Burnout Coin

Posted by Neil H. Baum, MD | Nov 2021

Neil H. Baum, MD, presented “Wellness: The Other Side of the Burnout Coin” for the Grand Rounds in Urology audience in November 2021.

How to cite: Baum, Neil H. “Wellness: The Other Side of the Burnout Coin.” November 2021. Accessed Apr 2024. https://grandroundsinurology.com/wellness-the-other-side-of-the-burnout-coin/

Wellness: The Other Side of the Burnout Coin

Grand Rounds in Urology Contributing Editor Neil H. Baum, MD, Professor of Urology at Tulane Medical School, considers the causes and consequences of burnout in urologists and makes suggestions for developing a urologist wellness program. He explains that urologists are unwell because they work an average of 50 to 60 hours per week, tend to be type-A perfectionists, have to deal with increased paperwork, have lost autonomy, and are forced to focus on cost rather than on patients. Dr. Baum notes that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problems doctors face, and anxiety and depression among doctors has increased from 10% before the pandemic to 40% now. He also explains that, unlike in some other professions, there are few resources available to physicians to aid them in wellness, although there is now a physician support line. Dr. Baum then lists the consequences of physicians being unwell, most notably job dissatisfaction leading to a failure to discuss treatment options and answer patients’ questions, which in turn leads to poor patient compliance, unfavorable outcomes, more malpractice suits, and more negative online reviews. Conversely, physician wellness improves quality of care for patients, enhances patient satisfaction and online reviews, and leads to increased personal and professional success for the physicians. Dr. Baum concludes with some suggestions for starting a wellness program for urologists, highlighting the success of a counseling program at a hospital which saw a significant decrease in exhaustion, burnout, and sick leave among physicians in the program.

For more commentary on practice management from Dr. Baum, visit his Improving Your Urology Practice page.

About The Author

Neil H. Baum, MD

Neil H. Baum, MD, is a Clinical Professor of Urology at Tulane Medical School in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is also a retired urologic surgeon. Additionally, Dr. Baum serves as the Medical Advisor to Vanguard Communications Group. Dr. Baum is the author of Marketing Your Clinical Practice - Ethically, Effectively, and Economically, which is in its 4th edition, has sold over 175,000 copies, and has been translated into Spanish. He also wrote The Complete Business Guide to a Successful Medical Practice, which was published in 2015. Dr. Baum was the columnist for American Medical News for more than 25 years. Dr. Baum also wrote the popular column, “The Bottom Line,” for Urology Times for more than 20 years. He is a requested speaker each year to the Practice Management Seminar for the American Urological Association (AUA), where he discusses techniques for making urology practices more efficient and more productive. He has written more than 9 books on practice management and over 250 peer-reviewed articles on various urologic topics. Dr. Baum is also the medical advisor to Vanguard Communications Group.

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