Time Off Isn’t Really Off-Time for Most Physicians
A groundbreaking JAMA Network Open study reveals a startling trend: about 20% of US physicians took less than a week of vacation last year. Even more concerning, 70% worked during their breaks, dealing with patient-related tasks. This study, encompassing over 11,000 physicians, highlights a critical issue in our healthcare system. Dr. Tait Shanafelt, Stanford Medicine’s chief wellness officer, emphasizes the necessity of genuine downtime for doctors, citing the risks of burnout, medical errors, and decreased patient satisfaction. Surprisingly, fewer than half of the physicians had their electronic health records (EHR) fully covered during their vacations, leading to work intruding into their personal time.
The findings are clear: emergency physicians and anesthesiologists differ markedly in vacation habits, and gender and age play a role, too. And complete EHR inbox coverage drastically reduces the need to work during vacations. Dive into the full story to explore the significant implications of this study for your practice and well-being.
Time Off Isn’t Really Off-Time for Most Physicians (Dotinga, Medscape, 1/15/24).
