SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Association Between Facility and Section-Level Characteristics and Burnout in Va Hospital Medicine Sections

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This study examined burnout in Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital medicine sections and whether facility- or section-level factors were linked to it. Researchers conducted a national survey of 138 VA acute care facilities and combined survey responses with VA administrative data. Burnout was rated on a 5-point scale, with the main outcome being moderate/high/severe burnout and a secondary outcome of high/severe burnout.<br /><br />The survey had an 84.8% response rate (117 facilities). Burnout was common: 44.4% of respondents reported moderate burnout, and 27.3% reported high or severe burnout in their hospital medicine section. No facility-level characteristics, such as region, complexity, urban/rural setting, or academic affiliation, were significantly associated with burnout.<br /><br />In contrast, several section-level factors were associated with higher burnout. Sections with lower daily admissions were less likely to report high/severe burnout. Higher burnout was also linked to larger patient loads and staffing shortages. Specifically, the maximum number of patients allowed per team was associated with higher burnout, and each additional vacant hospital medicine physician position increased burnout risk. Having any vacant physician position was strongly associated with both moderate/high/severe burnout and high/severe burnout. Requests for additional physician staffing were also more common in sections with higher burnout.<br /><br />The authors concluded that burnout is perceived as prevalent among VA hospital medicine leaders, even though the VA may have lower burnout than non-VA settings in prior research. The key drivers appear to be modifiable section-level factors rather than facility-level characteristics. Therefore, leadership efforts to reduce patient volume per team and address physician understaffing may help reduce burnout in VA hospital medicine sections.

Asset Subtitle

Joel C. Boggan

Meta Tag

Author List Charles M. Wray, Elizabeth A. Schackmann, Hye Sun Kim, Jacqueline M. Ferguson, Joel C. Boggan, Kirstin M. Piazza, Robert E. Burke, Sabrina D. Ibrahim

Category Research

Concept Burnout

Concept Hospital Medicine

Concept Patient Load

Concept Physician Staffing Vacancies

Concept Veterans Health Administration

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Durham VA Health Care System

Presenting Author Joel C. Boggan

Track Outcomes Research

Keywords

burnout

Veterans Affairs

hospital medicine

VA hospitals

staffing shortages

patient volume

physician vacancies

section-level factors

survey study

workplace burnout

Burnout

Hospital Medicine

Patient Load

Physician Staffing Vacancies

Veterans Health Administration