| dc.description | The mental health of physicians is an often-overlooked topic in the United States. Physicians have one of the highest burnout rates of any occupation in the US(Yates, 2020). With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians have been working long hours close to patients with COVID-19, all while dealing with a shortage of personal protective equipment and other medical supplies. These experiences could potentially result in the physicians developing generalized anxiety of contracting the virus itself, leaving them at a greater risk for developing mental health conditions and burnout. A few studies have even asserted that burnout is inevitable for all practicing physicians at some point in their career (Montgomery, 2014). Physician burnout is dangerous for both providers and patients, as burnout can lead to negative impacts on the safety of their patients (Al-Ghunaim et al., 2021), as well as an increased number of medical errors and medical malpractice suits, as well as decreased effectiveness of interpersonal teamwork with other health care workers (Mayo Clinic et al., 2018). | en_US |
