Physician assistant – Clinician Well-Being Knowledge Hub

Clinician Well-Being at Virginia Mason Kirkland Medical Center: A Case Study

NAM — Fri, 26 Jul 2019 13:41:32 +0000

The following case study highlights organizational initiatives from the Virginia Mason Kirkland Medical Center that have demonstrated success in supporting well-being and preventing burnout among practicing clinicians.

The case study is intended to inform and inspire organizations facing similar challenges and seeking similar outcomes. Although there is no one-size-fits-all solution for clinician well-being, techniques and resources described in the case studies may provide a useful starting point for other groups.

Burnout and Job and Career Satisfaction in the Physician Assistant Profession: A Review of the Literature

NAM — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 20:31:00 +0000

While much is known about the prevalence of burnout among physicians and nurses, little is known about burnout in the physician assistant (PA) profession. Approximately 50 percent of physicians and 35 percent of nurses report symptoms of burnout. Burnout is linked to increased health care costs, medical errors, and poor patient outcomes. The PA profession emerged in the 1960s in response to workforce shortages in rural and underserved communities. The profession has evolved from one designed for primary care to one that is adaptable to broad workforce demands. PAs are now employed in almost all medical specialties, including those with physicians reporting high rates of burnout. The authors believe that this is the first paper to explore the literature that relates specifically to PA burnout and career and job satisfaction.

Addressing the Physician Shortage The Peril of Ignoring Demography

NAM — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 18:13:26 +0000

Kirch’s article in JAMA Network describes the different factors affecting the future of our physician workforce. By citing demographic changes, the article makes physician workforce projections and the role non-physician clinicians (physician assistants and advanced practice nurses) play. The current data evidences that there will be physician shortages of both primary care and specialty physicians in both urban and rural communities.

Commentaries on health services research

NAM — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 19:26:21 +0000

In the 1960s, the profession of physician assistant (PA) rose to prominence and has since transformed the landscape of the medicine by supplementing and supporting the work of overextended physicians. The history of PA practice and its expansion for over a half-century includes many tasks that were once considered the sole domain of physicians. Gradual recognition by medical professionals and lawmakers alike has shaped PA scope of practice to include a wide range of primary, specialty, and sub-specialty care, and has the potential to further shape the development of healthcare providers.

Burnout in rural physician assistants: An initial study

NAM — Mon, 28 Jan 2019 17:38:02 +0000

The following study assesses the prevalence and causes of burnout in rural physician assistants by using the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Findings show that respondents were measured to have high to moderate emtional exhuastion and depersonalization subscores and a low to moderate personal accomplishment subscore. To begin addressing burnout within these communities, the authors suggest adjusting rural physician assistant workload and support, enhancing professional communications, and addressing burnout prevention techniques within physician assistant training programs.

Worklife and wellness in academic general internal medicine: Results from a national survey

NAM — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 18:10:21 +0000

The following study aims to assess academic general internal medicine (GIM) worklife and determine remediable predictors of stress and burnout. Physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants in 15 GIM divisions completed a ten-item survey. High stress was present in 67% of respondnets, with 38% burned out. Burnout was associated with high stress, low work control, and low values alignment with leaders. Key themes from the qualitative analysis were short visits, insufficient support staff, a Relative Value Unit mentality, documentation time pressure, and undervaluing education.

A Multicenter Study of Physician Mindfulness and Health Care Quality

NAM — Mon, 19 Feb 2018 13:24:52 +0000

This study, published in Annals of Family Medicine, sought to assess whether clinician self-rated mindfulness is associated with the quality of patient care. The researchers conducted an observational study of 45 clinicians (34 physicians, 8 nurse practitioners, and 3 physician assistants) caring for patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and 437 HIV-infected patients at 4 HIV specialty clinic sites across the United States. Patient-clinician communication quality and patient ratings of care were measured and analyzed. The study found that clinicians rating themselves as more mindful engage in more patient-centered communication and have more satisfied patients.