It’s no secret that being a physician is not easy. Many physicians are feeling burned out due to having to work so much. When you factor in how difficult their jobs have been due to the pandemic, it’s easy to see why this is stressful for those in the medical field. There are reports that 80% of American physicians were working under conditions where hospitals and medical facilities were overextended or at full capacity back in 2018.
These issues have only been exacerbated due to COVID-19. Even back in 2018, 78% of American physicians polled reported feeling burned out at least sometimes. It’d be easy to surmise that the percentage of people experiencing burnout would be much higher now. Why are things so bad with these professionals being overworked?
There Aren’t Enough Doctors to Go Around
Perhaps the biggest problem is that there aren’t enough doctors to go around. Doctors are very much in demand at the moment, and more of them are needed to care for patients. Currently, doctors have to cover more patients than they should, which leads to them feeling overextended. In certain areas, the problems are going to be worse than others.
Physicians Work Hectic Schedules
Many American physicians are working hectic schedules at the moment. They’re working very long shifts and not getting enough time at home to unwind. Having to focus so much on their professional lives leaves them feeling burned out after a while. It isn’t easy for busy professionals like this to find a satisfying work-life balance when they’re needed more than ever.
The Pandemic Is Keeping Hospitals Full
The pandemic is still keeping hospitals full. There are many more patients than there would normally be due to doctors having to treat those who have contracted COVID-19. Of course, there are still patients who need to come in for normal treatment, but some areas are having a hard time finding hospital beds for patients. It’s truly a stressful time to work as a physician in America, but many hope that things will be better in the near future so that physicians and other medical workers can enjoy a reprieve.