Premier Health CMO: Partnerships combat burnout in healthcare industry
OHIO, UNITED STATES — Premier Health’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Roberto Colón, is advocating for innovative solutions to address the pervasive issue of burnout in healthcare.
With burnout rates reaching 45% among U.S. workers, the healthcare industry is facing significant challenges in maintaining workforce engagement and retention.
The burnout epidemic in healthcare
In an interview with Becker’s Hospital Review, Dr. Colón highlights the far-reaching consequences of burnout, noting its impact on healthcare providers and the future workforce.
“When we see learners, students, residents, and fellows working with them [providers], that starts giving them a view of what healthcare is going to be like once they get out,” explained Dr. Colón.
“It can steer them [workers] away from one career path and into another. So there is a ripple effect that happens with that burnout and disengagement that I think we’re seeing significantly,” he added.
Strategic partnerships: A beacon of hope
Premier Health’s approach to these challenges centers on strategic partnerships. The health system has forged an affiliation with Wright State University to enhance regional academic medicine, workforce development, and community health.
“We’re a pretty robust institution, but we still can’t do everything for every patient without partnering with our community organizations to be able to be much more effective in how we support our community,” Dr. Colón states.
Outsourcing as an additional tool to combat burnout
While not explicitly mentioned in Dr. Colón’s strategy, outsourcing has also emerged as a potential solution to healthcare burnout.
Outsourcing non-clinical tasks such as medical billing, coding, and administrative work can significantly reduce healthcare professionals’ workloads, allowing them to focus on patient care.
Benefits of outsourcing in healthcare include:
- Reduced administrative burden on clinical staff
- Improved work-life balance for healthcare professionals
- Access to specialized expertise in non-clinical areas
- Cost-effective solutions for healthcare organizations
Building a supportive culture
Dr. Colón also emphasized the importance of fostering a supportive work culture.
Premier Health has invested in well-being programs and organizes social activities to help employees disconnect from work while maintaining collegial relationships.
Recognizing that burnout is a universal challenge in healthcare, Dr. Colón encourages institutions to share their initiatives and solutions.
“That’s one of the things that I think is important for us to do, be more public about the initiatives that we are leading, whether they’re effective or not, so that others can benefit from that as well,” he concludes.
By implementing a combination of strategic partnerships, outsourcing solutions, and supportive workplace initiatives, healthcare organizations can work towards reducing burnout and improving the overall well-being of their workforce.
