Dedication to serving the interest of the patient is at the heart of medicine’s contract with society. When physicians are well, they are best able to meaningfully connect with and care for patients. However, challenges to physician well-being are widespread, with problems such as dissatisfaction, symptoms of burnout, relatively high rates of depression, and increased suicide risk affecting physicians from premedical training through their professional careers.

These problems are associated with suboptimal patient care, lower patient satisfaction, decreased access to care, and increased health care costs.

 

da  JAMA   2018