Medicine In America

As I tweeted the other day, things like this article are beautiful in their simplicity and directness. Kudos to Dr Elliott Martin for distilling the physician ‘burnout’ crisis down to the core elements. I have written elsewhere that the term burnout is misapplied, and a poor choice to describe what physicians are currently feeling. Although not as headline friendly as burnout, the term “physician devitalization” seems to me more accurate and descriptive. Burnout implies we are working too hard, maybe too many hours, too intense, and that some time off with a little yoga, mindfulness and herbal tea will get us back at it. Bullshit. Read Martin’s article for some of what goes on, and you’ll get a flavor for what it feels like to be a physician (not a provider). And then see how his solutions are so simple and elegant.