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training, well-being seminars and scheduled group lunches) and system factor Feature
interventions (work hours restructuring, workflow changes, reduction of
administrative burden) are pooled together.4 Membership Social

As this data is perused, keep in mind a common mistake made by leaders Thursday, Oct. 25 n 6:30-8:30 p.m.
of medical groups and healthcare organizations is to place too much emphasis
on the personal factor contribution to burnout and not enough on the systemic The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery
reasons. As Ron Epstein, MD, author of Attending: Medicine, Mindfulness, and
Humanity, put it in a private conversation (paraphrased), “Suggesting physicians 4150 Yancey Road, Charlotte
attend mindfulness classes to reduce stress when they have to return to the same
demanding and dysfunctional system is disregarding and reinforces the notion To RSVP, email Sandi Buchanan at sbuchanan@meckmed.org.
that physicians are solely to blame for their burnout.”5 Rather, it is suggested
groups and organizations regularly assess practitioner burnout and workplace NCMS LEAD
factors that might contribute to it simultaneously. This assists with identifying Health Care Conference
root causes and therefore determines appropriate interventions.
Don’t miss the North Carolina Medical Society’s (NCMS) LEAD
Fortunately, many national healthcare organizations have taken notice Health Care Conference on Oct. 18-19, Raleigh Marriott Crabtree
and developed initiatives, consortiums and evidence-based tools to suggest Valley. Thanks to the line-up of stimulating speakers addressing
assessments and interventions. The overarching goal of all these bodies is to issues that matter most to you and your practice, you will leave the
not only reverse the trend of burnout, but to reclaim joy and meaning in the conference feeling inspired and renewed — and with up to 10.25
practice of medicine. hours of CME! Contact Nancy Lowe at meetings@ncmedsoc.org.
Register today and join us in Raleigh and plan on having some fun,
Finally, MCMS members should be aware their Board of Directors has heard too. In addition to dinner and dancing at the landmark Angus Barn
the voices of members about the level of burnout among colleagues, and is
taking steps to raise awareness and gather objective data to form action steps — pavilion on Thursday evening and a gala celebration dinner on
all toward strengthening physicians, and ultimately, the health of the community. Friday evening, you may want to consider staying on Saturday to

References enjoy the North Carolina State Fair.

1. Burnout and Satisfaction with Work-Life Balance Among U.S. Members Meet and Greet with
Physicians Relative to the General U.S. Population. Shanafelt TD, Boone
S, Tan L, Dyrbye LN, Sotile W, Satele D, West CP, Sloan J, Oreskovich MR. SENATOR JEFF JACKSON
Arch Intern Med. 2012 Oct 8;172(18):1377-85.
Wednesday, Oct. 10
2. Changes in Burnout and Satisfaction with Work-Life Balance in 5:30 p.m.
Physicians and the General U.S. Working Population Between 2011
and 2014. Shanafelt TD, Hasan O, Dyrbye LN, Sinsky C, Satele D, Sloan 110 Perrin Place
J, West CP. Mayo Clin Proc 2015 Dec;90(12):1600-13. Charlotte, NC 28207
RSVP to Sandi Buchanan at
3. Burnout: The Cost of Caring. Maslach C. ISHK, Los Altos, CA. 1982. sbuchanan@meckmed.org
4. Interventions to Prevent and Reduce Physician Burnout: A Systematic

Review and Meta-Analysis. West CP, Dyrbye LN, Erwin PJ, Shanafelt TD.
Lancet. 2016 Nov 5;388(10057):2272-2281.
5. Attending: Medicine, Mindfulness, and Humanity. Epstein R. Scribner,
New York, 2017.

Some notable resources:

n AMA

www.ama-assn.org/physician-wellness-program

www.stepsforward.org/modules/physician-burnout

n American College of Surgeons

www.facs.org/member-services/surgeon-wellbeing

n National Academy of Medicine

nam.edu/initiatives/clinician-resilience-and-well-being

n American College of Physicians

www.acponline.org/about-acp/chapters-regions/united-states/new-
mexico-chapter/physician-burnout-and-wellness-information-and-

resources

n American Academy of Family Physicians

www.aafp.org/membership/benefits/physician-health-first.html

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