We often focus so much on our clients and our practice that we don’t pay attention to the most important patient: ourselves. When you’re running non-stop, seeing people, cleaning up billing, and managing your practice, you tend toward burnout. Not to be confused with stress—which can be good—burnout is much different.
Burnout is when you’re not getting enough sleep, not taking care of yourself, and holding yourself to your obligations despite being ready to collapse. Almost all physicians feel stress, but not everyone experiences burnout, and likewise, not everyone who feels burnout addresses it healthily.
Let’s take a look at some of the most functional ways to manage and prevent burnout. With a little bit of planning, self-care, and assistance, you can get back on your feet and prevent another episode of burnout from sidelining you in the future.
5. Take a step back
Look at your practice and really evaluate why you started it, what you accomplish, and how it impacts your life. Surely your greatest satisfaction comes from treating and healing patients, but if you spend the majority of your time working on the minutiae of running an office—billing, scheduling, insurance, etc.—then you’re likely not putting your time and effort in the right place. You became a doctor to help people, not to work with bureaucracy and tedious paperwork.
Starting from the ground up, figure out your pain points—where are you spending the most time and money on tasks that don’t bring you joy? How is your practice run, and how does your staff function? Who is your ideal client, how do you get more of them, and how do you improve their experience?
One way to improve your client and personal experience is to use an intake process that utilizes machine learning. ViTel’s AI works with your clients as they fill out their intake forms to find the best match within your office, preventing you from being overloaded with patients better suited for another physician. Additionally, the intake process can help pinpoint a diagnosis based on symptoms, current medications, and other factors, saving you time.
Even spending a few days breaking down your practice and rebuilding can save you time, money, and stress—it’s absolutely worth it.
4. Create a schedule you stick with
Go into the office at set hours, see patients, spend meaningful time with them, and then go home when you need to. This is made easier if you have tools to handle tedious tasks like billing and scheduling.
ViTel’s system streamlines billing, payor communication, prescription fills, patient scheduling, employee schedules, and workflow in your office. This frees up precious time and lets you focus more on meaningful work, helping you leave on time and without stacks of paperwork.
3. Get some support
There are plenty of physician support groups available—both in-person and online. Finding a group of people who know what you’re dealing with can help you manage stress appropriately. Speaking with a therapist is another way to ensure your emotional and psychological needs are met when everything feels overwhelming.
It can be difficult to talk to friends and family about burnout and overwhelm, and you don’t have to. Between support groups, online discussion forums, and regular therapy, you can ensure your stress doesn’t take over.
ViTel has connections throughout the healthcare industry, including physician-only support groups that we facilitate through our platform. This gives you a space to share experiences, find solutions, and manage stress more effectively.
2. Relax
If you’re working 90 hours a week, burnout is inevitable. Though scheduling time to relax may seem counterintuitive, it’s your best bet for getting some much-needed rest. Sometimes, you have to make time for yourself, whether it’s scheduling a golf game, hike, or vacation. The golfing doctor might be a cliché, but that doctor is likely far less stressed than one working overtime at the practice.
1. Find Some Assistance
Integrated medical software like ViTel’s platforms allows you to schedule every aspect of your business, taking non-physician tasks off your plate. You can be as hands-on as you like, but it frees up your time for more important efforts. Our extensive network can assist with:
- Peripheral connections, including physical therapy, prescription fills, lab work, and referrals
- Employment screenings, including physician credentialing
- Patient and employee scheduling, so you’re not overloaded
- Payor and patient billing
- Telehealth integration
- Supplies, marketing, and more
Don’t let overwhelming work, long hours, and stress drive you to burnout. Schedule a free demo today and see how ViTel can help streamline your practice, reducing stress and inefficiency so you can focus on what truly matters.
