The shortage of doctors in the UK and globally is not going away quickly, but there are ways to support physician work with technology that reduce the strain and make a meaningful impact.
The healthcare world has undergone a heavy period of long-term stress during and after the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Guardian reports that all types of NHS staff – paramedics, nurses, and doctors – are experiencing severe burnout as a result of the stress and anxiety of working in a system under such tremendous strain. NHS physicians recently voted on organized labor strikes, and nurses are currently planning a vote, adding to recent walkouts by nurses and other healthcare workers. The British Medical Association reports that of 45,000 junior doctors in England, 98% were in favor of strike action.
The NHS in England now has vacancies for 10,582 physicians. The demand for care in the UK has been heightened by the ageing population and the aftermath of COVID-19. The four most affected specialties with staffing shortages are anesthetics, pediatrics, psychiatry, and heart and lung treatment.
What is Causing Burnout?
Combatting burnout is a complex and multi-faceted process, involving broad systemic issues as well as very personal ones like mental healthcare and self-care routines. Tackling systemic issues and overhauling these constraints are long-term projects where individuals and organizations have limited control. The question becomes – how can we help our physicians cope with the workload without becoming burned out? It helps to understand the main reasons behind what is causing the frustration and burnout symptoms.
A 2022 study by the British Medical Journal suggests that a feeling of being overextended coupled with being depleted of resources leads to a reduced sense of personal accomplishment. Feelings of incompetence combined with inadequate achievement and productivity were the main factors that led to career dissatisfaction.
The answer may lie in using smart technology resources to introduce efficiencies and streamline work processes.
New Technology that Supports Physicians
While technology may not be the magic bullet needed to completely solve this complex burnout problem, it is definitely an important tool in the toolbox. While the NHS and other organisations work towards longer-term changes in the system and recruitment efforts, it is worthwhile to implement strategies that increase the effectiveness of current physicians and create higher job satisfaction. Physicians that feel effective and in control of their time yield higher quality care and better patient outcomes – a win/win for everyone!
Over the years, physician practices has become overburdened with administrative work and documentation obligations to meet various regulatory requirements, taking up a significant portion of their time that could be better spent with patients.
By strategically implementing technologies like telehealth, physicians are empowered to see more patients in an effective manner, while meeting the needs of patients for immediate care. Technology-enabled physicians can see more patients per day using telehealth applications, and easily monitor the status of ongoing care with remote patient monitoring. By supporting these physicians with a technology team and administrative resources, they can better serve patients and end the day with higher satisfaction and less frustration.
FormDr Can Help
FormDr supports physicians with electronic forms that are fully compliant with the Data Protection Act (DPA) and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Electronic forms eliminate the need for time spent in the waiting room completing intake packets, consent forms, and other required documents. These can be sent to the patient ahead of time and completed with a smartphone, tablet, or computer at a convenient time prior to a visit. Facilitating processes like these creates new efficiencies within workflows and places patient information at the doctor’s fingertips.
For a complete list of FormDr features and templates, take a look at the full list here, or schedule a personalized demo.
