Hospital Pharmacy - April 2018 - 72

747451
editorial2017

HPXXXX10.1177/0018578717747451Hospital Pharmacy

Editorial
Hospital Pharmacy
2018, Vol. 53(2) 72
© The Author(s) 2017
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https://doi.org/10.1177/0018578717747451
DOI: 10.1177/0018578717747451
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Why Is Burnout a Taboo?
Samm Anderegg1

Burnout among health care professionals is a topic garnering
attention. It is long overdue. It is time for health care leaders,
educators, and employers to address the issue head on.
Future health care professionals have a long road ahead.
Multiple years of school, clerkships, residency, fellowship,
and continuing education await. Long days (and nights),
stressful work environments, and expectations from employers, academic institutions, professional societies, and others
will demand their time and attention. This type of servant
leadership may sound exciting to future clinicians.
Demands continue throughout our professional career as
life grows more complex and presents new challenges. Our
priorities shift and the time we allocate toward professional
responsibilities may change as well. That's life. You could
say the journey is never complete. Some people power
through, striving to "have it all," when in reality they are
sacrificing something in the attempt. For many, it's our own
happiness and well-being. Is this good? Is this normal?
Is there a way to learn all of the knowledge and skills
required to be a competent health care provider without subjecting students, residents, and fellows to burnout? Some
would argue it's a rite of passage. Others say it's a test of
will. What about traumatizing? Agonizing? Unhealthy?
Sure, most would admit, but no one likes talking about that.
Burnout is "taboo" in health care professions. If we talk
about being overworked, anxious, or unhappy, it might be
uncomfortable, sound weak, or feel like failure. Maybe people cry out for help every day. The politically correct word is
"venting." Ask anyone who's a friend or in a relationship
with a health care professional. Do you know anyone else
who vents more about their job? We do this as a coping
mechanism. Most people experience burnout, but no one
truly admits how seriously it impacts us.
Some of us grin and bear it for the sake of a security, fear
of change, or dedication to our professional goals. Some of
us change employers, transition to new roles, or move on to
entirely new careers. This is a problem that must be addressed.
We need to explore ways to support our peers coping with
burnout. We're so innately competitive. As colleagues, we
must give each other permission to speak freely. It's OK to
be vulnerable. It's not weak, it's formidable. It's human. It's
real.
As educators, we must admit this is an issue most, if not all,
health care professionals experience. We must communicate

this directly and deliberately to future professionals. We
should be competent in identifying and managing stress for
ourselves and for others. We must provide and promote
resources like mental health services. Let's hardwire support
systems within our curriculums, postgrad training programs,
and work environments.
As employers, we must invest in our employees. "Vacation
shamed" describes how people actually feel when they
request time off. Why? We should take time to understand
what our people value. Maybe it's less about salary and more
about personal time. Let's review paid leave policies and
build in flexibility for new hires (every other industry does).
These are only a few examples of how we can begin
addressing burnout in health care. It all starts with a conversation. We must take a long, hard look at our culture and ask,
"How can we recognize health, well-being, and happiness
the same way we celebrate publications, podium presentations, and hours worked?"
We are patient care providers and we're willing to sacrifice whatever it takes for our patients. But if we push ourselves too far, how safe and effective is the care we provide?
What type of health care professionals are we if we don't
care for the health of our profession? We need change-for
the well-being of our current and future workforce. If not for
our sake, for our patient's sake.
P.S. A word on "millennials." Millennials may be
viewed as self-absorbed job-hoppers that lack work
ethic. There is certainly a large generational divide to
acknowledge, but it is beyond the scope of this article.
We're not perfect, we are different. I challenge everyone to consider the perspective outlined in the previous
paragraphs. The emphasis is on life, well-being, and
happiness that defy traditional workplace culture. Are
these values worth changing tradition? Let's start the
conversation.

CEO, DocStation, NY, USA

Corresponding Author:
Samm Anderegg, PharmD, MS, BCPS, CEO, DocStation, Austin, Texas,
USA.
Email: samm@docstation.co

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