Healthcare Needs More Chief Wellness Officers to Address Burnout and Its Impact

As the prevalence of burnout among healthcare providers has increased over the last few years, it has raised attention to the issue. That attention, and an awareness of the impact burnout can have on patient outcomes, has led more organizations to implement interventions to address and alleviate burnout in healthcare.

As the prevalence of burnout among healthcare providers has increased over the last few years, it has raised attention to the issue. Burnout includes overwhelming exhaustion, feelings of cynicism and detachment from the job, and a sense of ineffectiveness and a lack of accomplishment. Among physicians, common drivers include excessive workloads, clerical burdens, organizational structures, and leadership culture.

Greater attention to the issue, and the impact it can have on patient outcomes, has led more organizations to implement interventions to address and alleviate burnout in healthcare. Bernadette Melnyk, PhD, RN, APRN-CNP, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN, vice president for health promotion, chief wellness officer and professor and dean of the college of nursing at The Ohio State University, highlighted the need for a chief wellness officer, just as healthcare has chief technology and quality officers, and some interventions currently being implemented.

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