Burnout — a term physicians are all too familiar with. Grueling hours, demanding work, administrative burdens, and inefficient medical systems all contribute to the physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion experienced by clinicians. Recent reports of physician burnout are so alarming that the American Medical Association (AMA) now refers to it as a health crisis of its own.

Although physician burnout has been an ever-present issue looming in the background, recent data show that its prevalence has nearly doubled over the past few years. It seems to be a ticking time bomb, with many providers threatening to cut back hours or leave their practice entirely. A physician shortage in an already short-staffed country could turn disastrous if changes are not made soon.