Today marks the final day of National Physicians Week (March 25-31). What perfect time for President Biden to have signed in to law the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, which authorizes programs to improve mental and behavioral health among healthcare providers. These $135 million in grants will fund mental health education and awareness campaigns to protect the well-being of healthcare workers. This law is named for the emergency medicine physician who died by suicide in April 2020 at the peak of the first COVID-19 surge.
The pandemic has taken a toll on the mental and emotional wellbeing of physicians and all healthcare givers. Only 49% of physicians reported being happy in 2020, versus 69% before the pandemic. Even before the pandemic, burnout among healthcare professionals was a pervasive public health concern, with some studies reporting burnout for more than 50% of clinicians. Today, nearly 80% of suffer from doctor burnout. But I suggest that they are not burned out but drained out. SelfCare for HealthCare can help them deal with occupational stress when together we establish selfcare in the workplace. Please learn more on my website, www.SelfCareforHealthCare.com and contact me today.
