Scribe Support – The Key To Alleviating Cardiologist Burnout

Burnout is on the rise, and cardiologists are no exception to it. This not only affects their well-being but also their ability to provide optimal care to patients. According to Medscape's 2024 "Physician Burnout and Depression Report," there has been a 4 % uptick in burnout among cardiologists in the past year. This increase can be attributed to various factors, with “bureaucratic tasks” such as paperwork and charting topping the list followed by “too many hours at work”. Bureaucracy will inevitably persist, creating barriers to providing quality care. Hence, using cardiology scribes is one strategy to prevent cardiologist burnout by streamlining workflows and reducing administrative burdens, ultimately enhancing patient care delivery.

Burnout Linked With Bureaucracy And EHR-Related Tasks

The clerical burden introduced by EHRs is recognized as a significant contributor to physician burnout and a barrier to patient care. A recent study found that 72% of cardiologists experiencing burnout attribute it to documentation time pressures, with 57% reporting increased after-hours EHR usage. Additionally, 32% of respondents in a Medscape survey identified the computerization of practice (EHRs) as the primary cause of cardiologists' burnout. Similarly, bureaucratic tasks, burdensome documentation requirements and a lack of administrative support are commonly cited contributors to cardiology burnout. According to a recent Medscape Report, 65% of cardiologists identify an excess of bureaucratic tasks as the primary contributor to their burnout. An initiative to incorporate scribes can alleviate burnout among cardiologists by easing the burden of bureaucracy and EHR-related tasks, thereby improving physician well-being and enhancing patient care.

Consequences Of Cardiologist Burnout

Cardiologist burnout carries profound implications, affecting both personal and professional lives. On a personal level, it can lead to devastating outcomes such as broken relationships, the onset of substance abuse, episodes of depression, and tragically, even suicidal ideation. Professionally, its impact is equally significant, manifesting in a decline in the quality of care provided, increased occurrences of medical errors, diminished levels of patient satisfaction, decreased overall productivity, and a rise in clinician turnover rates. Therefore, it is imperative to address and mitigate the factors contributing to burnout within cardiology practices.

Reduce Burnout By Relieving Administrative Burdens

Leaders in the field assert that relieving administrative burdens is the key to addressing the high rates of burnout among cardiologists.

- Laxmi Mehta, Director of Preventive Cardiology and Women's Cardiovascular Health at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, and a coauthor of the ACC Professional Life Survey, identifies administrative burdens as a significant factor contributing to burnout among cardiologists. Mehta emphasizes the need for implementing solutions such as hiring scribes to help alleviate the burden on cardiologists and improve overall job satisfaction.

- ACC President C. Michael Valentine, MD emphasizes that administrative burdens are a major contributing factor to burnout, alongside demanding work environments. To tackle this issue, he emphasizes the importance of supporting physicians through practical solutions such as hiring scribes to alleviate administrative tasks, enabling them to focus on patient care. Valentine stated that his practice experienced significant success after implementing scribes. Scribes enable clinicians to focus more on clinical care, leading to increased productivity, revenue, and satisfaction among both patients and physicians. He further added that investing in scribe programs that ease the nonclinical burden pays back in real.

Conclusion

The rising rates of burnout among cardiologists require taking proactive steps to protect both their well-being and the quality of patient care. Administrative burdens, particularly those stemming from bureaucratic tasks and electronic health record documentation, are the main drivers behind cardiologist burnout. Therefore, employing cardiology scribes offers a promising solution to alleviate administrative burdens and mitigate burnout. Sounds impressive? Interested in hiring cardiology scribes? Consider partnering with Physicians Angels. Our cardiology scribes are highly trained and skilled in providing real-time documentation support, allowing you to spend more time with patients, leading to increased job satisfaction and reduced burnout. Contact us today to learn more.