These days much focus is placed on how the changes and challenges in healthcare are impacting physician well being and Work/Life balance, with downstream consequences to patient care and safety. But little attention is given to the personal lives of physicians and how responsibilities and relationships outside of work can take a toll, as well.
In our consulting work, an organization approached us with concerns about a primary care physician who had been going through a particularly difficult divorce while at the same time struggling with an adolescent daughter who’d been in and out of treatment for a variety of behavioral health issues.
The physician was so concerned about his daughter he continuously dropped everything to accept cell phone calls from her and her siblings, no matter what he was doing. Patient feedback about the distractions was reaching not just his colleagues, but also the organization’s CEO. In addition to distracted patient care and disruptions in the schedule, the physician had also fallen deeply behind in case management and record keeping. The organization was concerned, but very much wanted to retain the physician, whose contributions were highly valued and whose performance, until recently, had been above reproach.
Working with the physician and referring practice, a support plan for the distracted doctor was developed:
When we coach physicians around responding to issues in personal life, or finding work/life balance, we’ve found there are three major areas where taking a different approach can make a big difference.
Relationship problems can be a drain on both time and emotional energy. Some ways to strengthen relationships at both work and home:
Practicing good self-care establishes a solid foundation for coping. Some ways to do this include:
For more information, read 15 Practical Tips To Improve Physician Work/Life Balance or Restoring Work/Life Balance: Why Healthcare Executives Should Care.
Need help improving your work/life balance? As part of your Physicians Well Being Resources, members are encouraged to give us a call at 877.731.3949 to schedule an appointment with a Peer Coach who understands and understands the unique challenges facing physicians, providers and advanced practitioners in healthcare today.