April 4, 2024

The Toughest Questions in Health Care: Why Are Residents Burnt Out and What Can Be Done About It?

The Toughest Questions in Health Care: Why Are Residents Burnt Out and What Can Be Done About It? Links

Residency can be an incredibly stressful part of the medical education experience. In a 2006 study of first-year residents – also called interns – researchers found 4% met criteria for being burnt out at the start of the year. That number was 55% by the end of the year.

For the fourth episode of our “The Toughest Questions in Health Care” series we’re looking at a challenge that has plagued teaching hospitals – like ChristianaCare – for decades. Dr. Brian Levine, ChristianaCare Associate Chief Academic Officer and Designated Institutional Official, and Dr. Andrew Blake, a second-year emergency medicine resident at ChristianaCare,  tackle the question, "why are residents burnt out, and what can be done about it?"

It's a conversation that takes us from the historical grind of residency to today's efforts in creating nurturing environments that still meet the high standards of medical training. We examine the fine line between the stress needed to forge competent physicians and the potential harm of overwhelming pressures.

 

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