Abstract
[This is an excerpt.] Physician burnout is a growing problem within the healthcare system and sports medicine physicians are not exempt. Burnout is a job-related, long-term stress reaction manifesting as emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and feelings of decreased personal achievement which may occur simultaneously with depression. Its impact on the healthcare system is not trivial, contributing to decreased patient satisfaction and clinical productivity, and increased occupational/personal distress, medical errors, unprofessional behaviour and physician turnover. The authors approach this topic as physicians within the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM). Burnout is not unique to American physicians, thus, some of these principles will apply to sport and exercise medicine clinicians worldwide. Despite the emerging priority among healthcare organisations to mitigate burnout, rates are not decreasing. Various strategies for screening and addressing burnout exist, yet significant gaps exist in the current framework when applied to sports medicine. We highlight the need to recognise systemic factors contributing to burnout specific to sports medicine physicians, identify action items to address these factors within the healthcare system and provide resources for affected physicians. Sports medicine physicians are experts in non-surgical sports medicine, specialising in medical, musculoskeletal and biopsychosocial issues affecting physically active individuals, including competitive athletes. AMSSM members represent multiple primary specialties (table 1) and provide care across a range of clinical settings, delivering a variety of athlete care, team/event coverage and procedural expertise. [To read more, click View Resource.]
