The quality and safety of patient care, and indeed the very vitality of our health care systems, depend heavily on high-functioning physicians. Yet recent data have revealed an extraordinarily high – and increasing – prevalence of physician burnout, defined as emotional exhaustion, interpersonal disengagement, and a low sense of personal accomplishment. In light of compelling evidence that burnout negatively affects patient care, health care leaders are rightly alarmed and are searching for answers.

It is increasingly clear that the growing threat to physicians’ well-being directly threatens the quality of the care that they deliver as well as the health and effectiveness of the organizations in which they practice. Thus, it is highly appropriate that health care organizations are beginning to take responsibility for developing programs to address the crisis of physician burnout, and this research is rapidly expanding.

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