Forty percent of physicians said they had interest in leaving their current organization within two years, according to a survey from the American Medical Association that was taken between 2021 and 2022.
The AMA cites burnout as a key factor to be addressed in order to help retain employees.
"I am most worried about burnout and physicians, particularly those in the front lines such as primary care and emergency medicine, leaving medicine due to administrative burdens and unsafe environments and expectations," Vineet Sharma, MD, an emergency medicine physician in Los Angeles, told Becker's. "This is the most important thing that needs to be addressed in 2024 with rising medical school debt, the rising cost of becoming a physician and the rising unhappiness of providers. The shortage of front-line providers can drastically impact the U.S. as our population is aging. If we don't find proper means of compensating providers and make their jobs more enjoyable, we will be in a health crisis."
The AMA recommends organizations use technology to reduce the burden of electronic health records, focus on supporting physicians in their jobs, and encourage teamwork to relieve the pressure on physicians, which can all help alleviate burnout.