NEEDS STATEMENT

There is a critical need to address burnout and suicide among Physicians and Advanced Practice Providers (APPs), which compromise patient care and safety. According to the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General (2022), burnout reduces clinician time spent with patients, increases medical errors and hospital-acquired infections, and accelerates staffing shortages. Despite existing guidelines, knowledge gaps persist regarding effective strategies to mitigate burnout. Physicians and APPs require education on factors contributing to burnout, practical strategies for peer support and self-facilitated small-group meetings, and effective interventions to enhance well-being and reduce burnout. This symposium aims to address these gaps by providing evidence-based information, practical tools, and techniques to identify burnout risk factors, implement peer support programs, and adapt effective interventions. By addressing these gaps, this symposium seeks to improve patient care, reduce medical errors, and promote a healthier work environment for Physicians and APPs, ultimately enhancing the overall quality of healthcare.

TARGET AUDIENCE

This activity is intended for primary care physicians, internal medicine physicians, surgeons, hospitalists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, within the CommonSpirit Health Texas Division Physician Enterprise.

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

At the conclusion of this activity, the participants should be able to:

• Identify factors contributing to burnout among physicians and APPs, including administrative tasks and increasing workloads.
• Apply peer support strategies, tools, and techniques to equip clinicians to recognize burnout in themselves and colleagues.
• Illustrate how self-facilitated physician and APP small-group meetings can improve burnout, and the tools and resources needed to host such meetings.
• Design and adapt interventions in your own market to address burnout and improve wellbeing.

EDUCATIONAL METHODS

Lecture, Panel Discussion, Small Group Breakout Session, Simulation, Skill-based Training Workshop

EVALUATION

Evaluation by questionnaire will address program content, presentation, and possible bias.