Overview

• A new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine finds that 10% of internal medicine physicians in the U.S. experience high-level burnout characterized by emotional exhaustion, detachment, and perceived ineffectiveness.
• Doctors in the Western United States face the highest burnout rates at 15%, compared to 9% in the Northeast and Midwest, and 7% in the South.
• Burnout prevalence is uniform across practice settings, with no significant differences between primary care and hospital doctors or inpatient and outpatient roles.
• The study surveyed 629 internal medicine physicians using an American Medical Association database, underscoring the urgency of addressing burnout in a workforce critical to general medical care.
• Researchers warn of a projected shortfall of 40,000 primary care physicians over the next decade, exacerbating the strain on the healthcare system if systemic interventions are not implemented.