More than half of physicians have experienced burnout, according to WHO.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified physician burnout as an occupational phenomenon.    

The WHO is clear that this is not a medical diagnosis. There are some estimates that more than half of physicians have experienced burnout. This classification has generated many headlines on television as well as in newspapers. Burnout is characterized by emotional exhaustion and depersonalization in response to unrelenting stress. 

There are five causes for burnout: excessive workload, inefficient work, work-life imbalance, loss of autonomy and control, and loss of meaning from work. Physicians now deal with clinical documentation in the electronic health record (EHR) and obtaining pre-authorizations for patient care. Physicians spend approximately 785 hours on documentation for quality metrics, all of which is unpaid. Most physician activities are reported and monitored, which adds to the stress. The additional administrative time has impacted time spent with patients; in a recent survey, physicians said they spent49.2 percent of their time with the EHR versus 27 percent with patients. The workload is felt to be unrealistic by 40 percent of physicians. Burnout is a public health crisis.    

This is not just an American phenomenon. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), a recent study on burnout, featuring 182 reports across 45 countries, revealed that “there was substantial variability in prevalence estimates of burnout among practicing physicians and marked variation in burnout definitions, assessment methods, and study quality.” 

“These findings preclude definitive conclusions about the prevalence of burnout and highlight the importance of developing a consensus definition of burnout and of standardizing measurement tools to assess the effects of chronic occupational stress on physicians,” the excerpt read.

Primary care physicians are also dealing with decreased compensation. Primary care physicians are averaging $189,000 in annual salary, while specialists (e.g., orthopedic surgeons/cardiologists) are averaging $500,000. Physicians begin their career with $190,000 of medical school debt, on average.  

An estimated 400 physicians also commit suicide per year, twice the rate of the general population. Physicians are also suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to dealing with increasing numbers of mass shootings, terror attacks, and hate crimes. There is a financial cost to burnout as well. Medscape has estimated the cost of physician burnout to be $4.6 billion annually.

A suggested method of mitigating the workload is increasing the number of assistants. Medical scribes can assist in reducing physician administrative workload.

One organization, Novant Health, has developed a program to address physician burnout. This program provides support to each hospital-based physician who wishes to participate in the program, which assists physicians, nurses, and administrative leaders. The program focuses on resiliency and wellness. Approximately $2 million was initially spent to develop the program, which has assisted more than 800 physicians to date.

There are ICD-10-CM codes that may be associated with burnout. Unfortunately, ICD-10-CM is not specific to physician burnout. The diagnosis codes that capture this epidemic include:

  • F43.10 – Post-traumatic stress disorder, unspecified
  • F43.11 – Post-traumatic stress disorder, acute
  • F43.12 – Post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic
  • Z73.0 – Burnout
  • Z56.3 – Stressful work schedule
  • Z63.8 – Family estrangement
  • Z56.6 – Work-related mental stress
  • Y99.8 – Civilian work for compensation

More data is needed to capture the depth and breadth of this phenomenon, and to address it.


Programming Note:

Listen to Laurie Johnson report this story live today during Talk Ten Tuesday, 10-10:30 a.m. ET.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

Laurie M. Johnson, MS, RHIA, FAHIMA, AHIMA Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer

Laurie Johnson is currently a senior healthcare consultant for Revenue Cycle Solutions, based in Pittsburgh, Pa. Laurie is an AHIMA-approved ICD-10-CM/PCS trainer. She has more than 35 years of experience in health information management and specializes in coding and related functions. She has been a featured speaker in over 40 conferences. Laurie is a member of the ICD10monitor editorial board and is a permanent panelist on Talk Ten Tuesdays

Related Stories

New Online Drug Lookup Tool Unveiled

New Online Drug Lookup Tool Unveiled

MedLearn Media is launching an online resource believed to be useful for professional coders, charge capture, compliance, and revenue integrity specialists alike. DrugCode Pro is

Read More

Leave a Reply

Please log in to your account to comment on this article.

Featured Webcasts

I050825

Mastering ICD-10-CM Coding for Diabetes and it’s Complications: Avoiding Denials & Ensuring Compliance

Struggling with ICD-10-CM coding for diabetes and complications? This expert-led webcast clarifies complex combination codes, documentation gaps, and sequencing rules to reduce denials and ensure compliance. Dr. Angela Comfort will provide actionable strategies to accurately link diabetes to complications, improve provider documentation, and optimize reimbursement—helping coders, CDI specialists, and HIM leaders minimize audit risks and strengthen revenue integrity. Don’t miss this chance to master diabetes coding with real-world case studies, key takeaways, and live Q&A!

May 8, 2025

Trending News

Featured Webcasts

Navigating the 3-Day & 1-Day Payment Window: Compliance, Billing, and Revenue Protection

Navigating the 3-Day & 1-Day Payment Window: Compliance, Billing, and Revenue Protection

Struggling with CMS’s 3-Day Payment Window? Join compliance expert Michael G. Calahan, PA, MBA, CCO, to master billing restrictions for pre-admission and inter-facility services. Learn how to avoid audit risks, optimize revenue cycle workflows, and ensure compliance across departments. Critical for C-suite leaders, providers, coders, revenue cycle teams, and compliance teams—this webcast delivers actionable strategies to protect reimbursements and meet federal regulations.

May 15, 2025
Audit-Proof Your Wound Care Procedures: Expert Insights on Compliance and Risk Mitigation

Audit-Proof Your Wound Care Procedures: Expert Insights on Compliance and Risk Mitigation

Providers face increasing Medicare audits when using skin substitute grafts, leaving many unprepared for claim denials and financial liabilities. Join veteran healthcare attorney Andrew B. Wachler, Esq., in this essential webcast and master the Medicare audit process, learn best practices for compliant billing and documentation, and mitigate fraud and abuse risks. With actionable insights and a live Q&A session, you’ll gain the tools to defend your practice and ensure compliance in this rapidly evolving landscape.

April 17, 2025
Utilization Review Essentials: What Every Professional Needs to Know About Medicare

Utilization Review Essentials: What Every Professional Needs to Know About Medicare

Dr. Ronald Hirsch dives into the basics of Medicare for clinicians to be successful as utilization review professionals. He’ll break down what Medicare does and doesn’t pay for, what services it provides and how hospitals get paid for providing those services – including both inpatient and outpatient. Learn how claims are prepared and how much patients must pay for their care. By attending our webcast, you will gain a new understanding of these issues and be better equipped to talk to patients, to their medical staff, and to their administrative team.

March 20, 2025

Rethinking Observation Metrics: Standardizing Data for Better Outcomes

Hospitals face growing challenges in measuring observation metrics due to inconsistencies in classification, payer policies, and benchmarking practices. Join Tiffany Ferguson, LMSW, CMAC, ACM, and Anuja Mohla, DO, FACP, MBA, ACPA-C, CHCQM-PHYADV as they provide critical insights into refining observation metrics. This webcast will address key issues affecting observation data integrity and offer strategies for improving consistency in reporting. You will learn how to define meaningful metrics, clarify commonly misinterpreted terms, and apply best practices for benchmarking, and gain actionable strategies to enhance observation data reliability, mitigate financial risk, and drive better decision-making.

February 25, 2025

Trending News

Celebrate Lab Week with MedLearn! Sign up to win one year of our Laboratory All Access Pass! Click here to learn more →

Prepare for the 2025 CMS IPPS Final Rule with ICD10monitor’s IPPSPalooza! Click HERE to learn more

Get 15% OFF on all educational webcasts at ICD10monitor with code JULYFOURTH24 until July 4, 2024—start learning today!

CYBER WEEK IS HERE! Don’t miss your chance to get 20% off now until Dec. 2 with code CYBER24