After physician burnout peaked at 62.8% in 2021 due to COVID-19, reports of physician burnout have dropped down to 48.2%, according to a recent AMA report.

A closer look at the numbers reveals several important trends about what is contributing to burnout, and what could help to reduce it. For example, 86.3% of physicians reported they feel overworked, with administrative tasks being the most significant contributing factor. Specialties like cardiology, diabetes, and critical care spend more than 16 hours per week on administrative duties. To provide support, hospitals can implement automation, update software, and modernize note-taking and charting practices.

Between 2022 and 2023, physician satisfaction increased from 68% to 72.1%, according to the AMA national physician comparison report. This improvement was largely driven by enhanced work-life balance and greater administrative support. As stated in the same report, stress levels among physicians decreased from 55.6% in 2022 to 50.7% in 2023. Reducing physician stress was achieved by successfully meeting staffing needs and lessening the burden of administrative duties.

Finally, feeling valued is a powerful antidote to physician burnout. 50.4% of physicians reported feeling valued in 2023, up from 46.3% in 2022. Emphasizing the importance of thanking physicians with monetary bonuses or rewarded time-off goes a long way to continue the decline in doctor burnout.

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