No one wants to feel overwhelmed and stressed all day, every day. Maintaining a work-life balance oftentimes is easier said than done. Society tells people they need to work hard, because laziness is not an option. But what happens when employees get overworked and burnout? Times have changed over the past few years, and the fact of the matter is that people will leave if they are not working in a sustainable environment. Sentiment is changing and people are putting themselves first, instead of suffering through burnout.
This is especially true when it comes to the healthcare industry. Clinicians and doctors already have a high-level job with a lot of responsibility. There is no need to bog them down with mindless tasks just to fill their to-do lists. Just because doctors and physicians can do other jobs does not mean they have to, because it could lead to burnout and turnover, which the industry does not need.
Studies over the past few years show that burnout is decreasing, but it’s still relatively high. Researchers say that burnout rates are currently at 45%. Even though numbers might be lower, the healthcare industry should strive to eliminate these numbers altogether. The best way to do this is to provide a much more sustainable environment for frontline workers.
“Clinicians are being overworked both on and off the frontlines. Their workloads are not just full of taking care of patients, but they also have to spend countless hours doing paperwork. No wonder they are feeling burnt out. They have virtually no break in their shifts to breathe or truly focus on their patients, because they are swamped with administrative tasks. Doctors and nurses have a huge weight on their shoulders and it’s time to take care of them,” says DoorSpace CEO Sarah M. Worthy.
Heavy workloads not only make employees stressed and miserable with their jobs, but it also contributes to lower physical and mental health. Being stressed out on a regular basis slowly deteriorates peoples’ mental health, making it hard for them to be productive and get things done. Living with a lower sense of self can lead to anxiety and other mental health issues. Mental and physical health are connected, so when one thing is out of whack, everything else is too. Stress can weaken peoples’ immune system and can even increase the risk of a heart attack in some people.
The healthcare industry should realign their internal processes to provide employees with more sustainable workloads and schedules. If frontline workers have the opportunity to spend time outside of work doing the things they love, with the people they love, there is a chance they will not feel as burnout at work, because they have more free time. This will not only decrease turnover as a whole, but it will stimulate productivity, and in this case, will lead to a higher level of patient care.
“Just because doctors and nurses are taking care of people for a living does not mean they have to put their own health on the backburner. Their health is just as important, and could be a deciding factor in the type of care they provide to their patients. If a doctor is not feeling well, how can they possibly take care of anyone else? Having a balance between their physical and mental health, and the health of their patients is necessary for healing on both sides,” says Worthy.
Healthcare leaders can invest in technology to streamline processes like paperwork and record keeping to prevent burnout. This will give employees more time in their days to get back to the root of the industry, which is taking care of patients. When they are doing mindless tasks, instead of fulfilling their passion, it can lead to stress and a lower sense of well-being.
Minimizing workloads and giving employees more free time outside of work to do the things they love will help them feel more productive in the long run. Practicing sustainability can be an easy switch, and will benefit the healthcare industry as a whole.
