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MEDICAL YEAR
IN REVIEW

How Hospital Staff Shortages

Contribute to Physician Burnout

By Sowjanya Mohan, MD

A s we slowly emerge from the challenges the pandemic the problem, in 2021 congress introduced the bipartisan Resident Physi-

cian Shortage Reduction Act of 2021 (S. 834/H.R. 2256) to help open
brought to heath care, one of the continuing struggles our
hospitals are facing across the country is staffing. Nursing and
physician shortages were already an issue before the pandemic. COVID more spots for residency training.
Cost is another barrier for many. The Association of American Med-
has exacerbated the situation, resulting in physician burnout and affect- ical Colleges reports that in 2021-2022, the average yearly cost for first
ing not only how we provide care but also the patient experience while year medical students is approximately $51,433 (without living ex-
within our care. penses), extrapolated to $205,734 for a four-year medical degree, in ad-
A look at recent data warns of the increasing stress this is putting on dition to undergraduate education costs. Many young physicians
our communities and care providers. According to physician staffing entering practice are under significant stress to pay student loans as well
company CHG Healthcare, 43% of physicians changed jobs during the as establish practices and start their post education lives.
years of the pandemic, most to find work-life balance and avoid burnout, Hospital staffing issues have an impact as well. As hospitals work to
with 8% retiring and 3% moving into non-medical careers. Data pub- overcome shortages in clinical staffing, physicians often become a buffer,
lished in 2020 by the Association of American Medical Colleges esti- still having to provide optimal patient care, being responsible for out-
mates that the U.S. could see a shortage of 54,100 to 139,000 physicians comes and being the “face” of the organization to the patients and fam-
by 2033 in both primary and specialty care fields. Time Magazine pro- ilies. Yet, they have little control over staffing levels or utilization of
filed the extent of the healthcare shortage in a July article noting several resources within an organization. Physicians want to feel valued by the
studies on the issue including a March 2021 survey conducted by Mer- organization and administrative partners, not just a replaceable cog on
ritt Hawkins for the Physicians Foundation, which reported that 38% a wheel. They want to work in a setting where they can take good care
of physicians said they would like to retire in the next year. of their patients, have time to engage the staff they work with, and still
The reasons are of course many, and the consequences far reaching. have time to spend time with their families and enjoy hobbies and in-
To begin with, the pipeline that feeds our physician population is terests outside of work. New and temp staffing for ancillary roles make
pinched from the start. There are not enough Graduate Medical Edu- it harder to form a team mentality when working in the clinical setting.
cation spots for internships, residencies and training. To help address That lack of a sense of community can also lead to stress and burnout.

14 SAN ANTONIO MEDICINE • December 2022