California Gazette

National Doctors’ Day: Honoring Physicians Amidst Challenges and Risks

National Doctors' Day: Honoring Physicians Amidst Challenges and Risks
Photo: Unsplash.com

By: Dr. Gail Gazelle

March 30th marked National Doctors’ Day in the United States, a day to honor the commitment and sacrifices of physicians across the country. While the nation has previously celebrated healthcare workers with parades, free meals, and public accolades, especially during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the reality beneath these gestures tells a story of ongoing daily challenges and risks that doctors face.

Federal data paints a concerning picture of the healthcare environment, revealing that healthcare workers are five times more likely to experience workplace violence than those in other industries. They accounted for an alarming 73 percent of nonfatal injuries from workplace violence in 2018, the most recent year for which detailed statistics are available. Furthermore, the rate of injuries from violent attacks against medical professionals saw a significant increase of 63 percent from 2011 to 2018.

Beyond the threat of physical violence, physicians grapple with systemic issues that exacerbate their work conditions. Dr. Gail Gazelle, MD, an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School, sheds light on the pressures doctors endure. “Physicians are faced with long hours, traumatizing conditions, arduous arguments with insurance companies, and little administrative support. There is a lot of pressure on them to be perfect and hide their struggles, leading many to believe their job to be thankless on the day-to-day,” she explains.

These pressures are not without consequence. A survey found that more than 40% of physicians hesitated to seek help for burnout or depression out of fear that their medical board or employer would discover their struggles. This fear of retribution or stigma for admitting to mental health or addiction issues forces many doctors to suffer in silence, further endangering their well-being and the quality of patient care.

Dr. Gazelle emphasizes the critical need for systemic change to support physicians effectively. “Leave feedback for your local hospitals urging them to provide an actionable plan on how they will provide support for their physicians. This can look like mental health programs, administrative support with paperwork and documentation, or increased staffing to avoid overwhelm,” she suggests.

Moreover, Dr. Gazelle calls for a compassionate approach to understanding doctors’ personal battles. “Some doctors may be struggling with something personal, such as invisible illnesses; we never know what people have going on under the surface. I encourage you to reach out to your physician and ask what kind of support they are in need of. Although it may appear that our doctors are superheroes, we are all just human after all.”

This goes beyond the symbolic gestures of appreciation associated with National Doctors’ Day. It advocates for a deep commitment to fostering a safer and more supportive environment for physicians, recognizing their indispensable role within the healthcare system. The additional strain doctors outline the necessity for such an environment face in their intermediary role between insurance companies and patients. Physicians often find themselves in the unenviable position of being perceived as the “bad guy” when insurance companies deny coverage for necessary medications or treatments, deeming them non-essential. This not only creates a rift between doctors and patients but also places an undue mental burden on physicians who are left to navigate the fallout.

Feeling abandoned, patients may direct their frustration towards doctors, exacerbating the stress and burnout healthcare professionals already endure. This dynamic further strains the doctor-patient relationship, with physicians carrying the weight of these confrontations home at the end of each day.

Hence, hospital administrators and insurance companies play a pivotal role. They are tasked not only with recognizing these challenges but also with actively participating in the formulation and execution of strategies aimed at tackling the underlying causes of such tensions. Initiatives may involve advocating for policy reforms that prioritize patient well-being over financial gain, enhancing communication channels between healthcare providers and insurers, and assisting physicians in their advocacy efforts on behalf of patients. Through these measures, the aim is to mitigate some of the extra burdens physicians encounter, allowing them to concentrate on their primary duty: providing care for their patients.

The heightened dedication to establishing a supportive atmosphere for physicians benefits not just the doctors themselves but also patients and the healthcare system in its entirety. Guaranteeing the welfare of medical professionals is crucial for upholding the standard of patient care and the general well-being of the nation. As National Doctors’ Day is commemorated, the call is for a shift beyond momentary displays of appreciation to a continual endeavor to bolster and safeguard those committed to the healing profession. Ultimately, the health of healthcare providers directly influences the health of the nation.

Dr. Gail Gazelle, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and a Master Certified Coach, has been at the forefront of addressing this burnout crisis. Through her work and her most recent book, “Mindful MD: 6 Ways Mindfulness Restores Your Autonomy and Cures Healthcare Burnout,” Dr. Gazelle offers a pioneering approach to mitigating the effects of burnout and turnover in the healthcare sector. With over a decade of experience coaching more than 500 physicians, she provides a nuanced perspective on the crisis and its solutions.

 

Published By: Aize Perez

(Ambassador)

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