Physician well-being from the perspective of Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism

The problem is an acute one. A survey a few years ago by the Physicians' Foundation found that half of US physicians reported being pessimistic about the medical profession, one-third indicated feeling overworked and extended beyond their capacity to perform, and almost half said they were planning to either retire or do whatever it takes to reduce patient load to decrease their stress. If anything, the situation has gotten worse with increasing documentation and time spent dealing with computerized medical record platforms, increasing knowledge required to avoid litigation, increasing complexity of patient medical problems, increasing need to haggle with insurance companies to get paid (or pay for patient prescriptions), and the list goes on. With potential limits on spending and growing numbers of patients with chronic illness due to the aging of the population, our healthcare system may soon be on life support, and it is physicians who will most likely need ventilator assistance. No one can deny that well-being within our hallowed and sacred profession is heading for an all-time low.

Duke Scholars

Author Harold G. Koenig Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Adult Psychiatry & Psychol ...