Stress Management For Physicians

Most people have some degree of stress in their lives. There is a high level of stress among physicians who practice clinical medicine. Although many institutions are incorporating measures to address stress and burnout among physicians, the solution is beyond building a respite room or holding pizza parties. While stress is largely related to a systemic problem in healthcare, it is important to address stress at an individual level and not wait until an overhaul in healthcare to take place.

Stress is a state when we are stretched physically or emotionally. Stress causes tension. We will address the emotional stress here, although emotional stress likely affects physical stress and vice versa. Just like a rubber band, when it is stretched and stressed beyond the tension it can withstand, the rubber band snaps and breaks. Stress affects us emotionally and physically. It can affect our performance and patient care. Stress has also become one of the major reasons physicians are leaving their jobs. If physicians are experiencing stress to the point that you are unable to respond in a manageable way, you will suffer from burnout.

Everyone experiences stress differently. Each individual also has a different threshold for stress. It is important for you to recognize when you feel stressed. Find out what the main reason is behind your stress and acknowledge it. Avoiding or numbing your feelings will only make matters worse.

It is not your fault to be feeling stressed. Accept what you are feeling and how you are feeling. Only by acknowledging, accepting and be willing to feel your emotions can you manage your stress in a constructive and helpful way.

As physicians, many are experiencing work-related stress. Some may also have stress from home. Very commonly, what is going on at work is also affecting life outside of medicine. It is important to recognize that it is a certain thought about your situation that is causing you to feel stressed. For example, you may feel stressed when you think that you have too many patients to see in a day. Or if you think that the electronic health record system is too cumbersome. Or if you think that you have too many phone calls, excessive administrative duties, etc.

Is there another way to view your situation? Say, you have 25 patients to see for the day. Instead of thinking that there are too many patients to see, is it possible to shift into the thought of thinking 25 patients is a manageable day?

It is helpful to always be open to possibilities and be curious about other perspectives and opinions. Before deciding to quit your job, it is vital to be able to manage the stress associated with your work environment. Otherwise, you will likely experience stress in another workplace and not be able to handle it in a helpful way. When you are able to manage your stress, when you decide to leave a job, you are going for a better opportunity rather than running away from your current situation.

For those specific complaints about the number of patients, electronic health record documentation, phone calls an administrative duties, here are some suggestions which may help decrease you stress. Talk to your employer or administration to find out if it is possible to decrease your patient load. As patient documentation may occupy the majority of the patient care time, find out if it is possible to get a scribe. It is also helpful to know your EHR system well and utilize the shortcuts and whatever functions which increase efficiency. Delegate work to your staff members whenever possible. Focus on one task at a time instead of having multiple things on your mind while seeing patients.

As physicians, many believe that they are supposed to do everything and do it well. They are supposed to be available all the time. Is it true? Doing things well is important, and that does not mean everything has to be perfect. A good enough patient documentation is one that lets other clinicians know about the patient and what your plan is for that patient. It is okay to have an accidental spelling error or grammatical mistake.

You are first a human being before you are a physician. It is important to set clear boundaries and know when to say “no”. You can choose to only be available for work-related duties during your official work hours.

You are in more control than you think. Stress is manageable when you are recognizing, acknowledging and accepting your feelings. Stress is manageable when you are willing to be open about other options and changes.

No matter how much you want to put patient care as your top priority, it is important to realize that taking care yourself is the most important step in stress management and in better patient care.

Self-care starts with getting adequate sleep, daily exercise and eating a balanced diet. To manage you mind, it is important to be aware of what your mind is up to. In other words, be mindful of what your mind is thinking and where it is going, as that affects how you feel.

No matter how little time you believe you have, take a pause, even just for a few minutes. Change your environment. Go outdoors if possible. This allows you to rest and recharge.

Another thing you can do to manage stress is to be intentional about celebrating your wins. Any wins. For example, staying on time while seeing your patients. Celebrate that you are working well with your staff members. Celebrate that you are helping another patient in a meaningful way. You get to celebrate as many times as you like.

When you feel stressed, talk to someone about it, such as a mentor, a colleague, a friend or a coach. Sometimes you feel better by simply talking it out. Joining a support group and bonding with others who are in a similar situation may also help with stress relief.

Although the healthcare system is overdue for a transformation to enhance physician well-being and patient care, there are things you can do at an individual level to manage stress, so that you can avoid burnout. Better stress management is better well-being. Betting well-being of physicians will enhance patient care and increase job satisfaction.