Jacob Kupietzky, President of HealthCare Transformation, is supporting healthcare executives in addressing the burnout and stress experienced by healthcare workers. Reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that nearly half of healthcare workers felt burned out in 2022, with 86% feeling overworked, leading to considerations of changing their career paths. The deterioration of the healthcare system is impacting the well-being of healthcare workers, from staffing shortages to workplace violence.
Healthcare leaders have a responsibility to identify and address employee burnout before it leads to a deeper crisis. Understanding what burnout looks like and being proactive in addressing it can help mitigate serious problems before they become irreparable. The negative implications of burnout include mental health challenges, decreased productivity, fatigue, irritability, and lower immune health. This can result in poor employee retention, low morale, and lower patient experiences within healthcare organizations.
Leaders can pinpoint signs of burnout sooner by knowing their people, prioritizing well-being, showing appreciation, establishing workplace support systems, fostering connection, and encouraging feedback. By having quality relationships with employees, leaders can identify when something is off with them and provide the necessary support and resources. Creating a workplace culture that values well-being, shows appreciation, and supports employees can lead to higher employee engagement and lower turnover rates.
Healthcare leaders must prioritize the care of their employees by understanding and addressing burnout in the workplace. By taking steps to address burnout sooner and creating a culture where employees feel supported and cared for, the result will be a healthier and more productive workforce. When employees feel part of a team that prioritizes their well-being and has support systems in place, they can better avoid burnout, navigate it successfully if it occurs, and thrive both personally and professionally in the long term.
