Some people consider the value based on their hourly wage. Others consider the time they spend with family and friends as priceless. No matter how you look at it, everyone agrees there is never enough of it. Physicians and providers know this all too well. In fact, according to a 2012 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, doctors, on average, work 10 hours more a week than other professionals, with nearly 40 percent working 60 hours or more. (1) And that was four years ago. The substantial increase in the administrative burden placed on health care professionals in recent years, along with the aging population is taking a heavy toll and driving the number of incidents of over-stressed and burned out physicians to an all-time high.
There’s a difference between “having it all” and “doing it all.” As part of Physician Well Being Resources from VITAL WorkLife, physicians/providers and their family members can take advantage of a broad range of personalized, time saving services to help with daily living tasks. WorkLife Concierge is an all-in-one travel agent/personal assistant, free for you and your family to use as often as you like.
Here are a few examples:
Time management has been taught to business professionals for years. It is not a topic that is necessarily presented to physicians and providers. A Medscape article listed 12 time management tips specific to Doctors.
Last year, Physicians’ Life asked a group of doctors in Rhode Island for tips and tricks on how they find a little time and space in their hectic schedules. Here are a few of their suggestions.
If your time management skills are having an impact on your work or home life, consider taking advantage of your VITAL WorkLife Resources, like Peer Coaching, Counseling or WorkLife Concierge. Contact VITAL WorkLife at 877.731.3949 or through the VITAL WorkLife App any time, day or night, for the support you and your family need.
Sources:
(1) “Time in the bank: A Stanford plan to save doctors from burnout,” by Brigid Schulte, August 20, 2015, The Washington Post