Burnout, dissatisfaction with EHRs increase physician turnover

According to a study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, physician burnout, dissatisfaction with electronic health records (EHRs) and work-life imbalance are main reasons why physicians leave current positions.

The study surveyed 6,880 physicians from August 28 to October 6, 2014 to assess information on the likelihood of reducing clinical hours in the next year or leaving their current practice within the next two years. The factors of burnout, satisfaction with EHRs and work-life balance were examined in their effect to the career plans of physicians.

Of the 6,695 physicians that were in clinical practice at the time of the survey, 19.8 percent stated it was likely they would reduce clinical work hours in the next year and 26.6 percent stated it was likely they would leave their current position within the next two years.

“Nearly one in five U.S. physicians intends to reduce clinical work hours in the next year, and roughly one in 50 intends to leave medicine altogether in the next two years to pursue a different career,” concluded first author Christine A. Sinsky, MD, vice president of professional satisfaction at the American Medical Association, and colleagues. “If physicians follow through on these intentions, it could profoundly worsen the projected shortage of US physicians.”