COVID-19 & Beyond: Micro-practices for Burnout Prevention and Emotional Wellness

Abstract

With COVID-19, the demands and stresses on radiologists and physicians have increased dramatically. Even prior to this pandemic the high prevalence of burnout, the complex causes, and critical consequences had been widely reported. Many institutional and individual interventions have been advocated to address burnout and promote wellness including decreased workload, improved work schedules and EHR, mindfulness (including MBSR) and personal coaching. The need for effective strategies and tools is only increasing as both individuals and institutions navigate the current anxiety and uncertainty. We have conducted workshops on emotional intelligence exclusively for physicians, including radiologists, (DF) and separately for managers and business leaders (CC). In our experience, both physicians and managers hunger for skills and strategies to help successfully navigate their increasingly complex worlds. In particular, physicians long to serve their patients and practices with energy and inspiration, and have some semblance of balance in their lives. In our experience physicians especially enjoy highly actionable tools that require minimal time to learn and implement, a.k.a. “micro-practices.”