Episode 42: Who cares for the care providers? Gail Gazelle, MD, talks physician burnout, mental health, and mindfulness
Medical professionals are leaving the industry in droves, and those who remain are burning out over untenable workloads and business pressures. Our doctors are responsible for caring for us. But who’s responsible for caring for them? And why do so many doctors not take the time to take care of themselves? Dr. Gail Gazelle, a physician coach, author, and Harvard assistant professor, joins Justin to explain why healthcare professionals are so prone to burnout and how they can – and must – preserve their mental well-being. Dr. Gazelle describes the four signs of burnout, the systemic factors that contribute to it, and how mindfulness can help physicians avoid handing over their happiness.
Justin and Dr. Gazelle look beyond the symptoms of healthcare’s mental health epidemic to raise some questions about its causes: Is a more profit-focused industry leading doctors to lose their sense of purpose? How did we get here, and who’s responsible for fixing it? And what can physicians do to break the cycle?
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