Burnout in Trauma Surgeons During the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Long-standing Problem Worsens

Abstract

Purpose of Review Physician burnout is well-described in the literature. We analyze the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on burnout in trauma and acute care surgeons (TACS). Recent Findings Along with other healthcare workers and trainees, TACS faced unprecedented clinical, personal, and professional challenges in treating a novel pathogen and were uniquely affected due to their skillset as surgeons, intensivists, and leaders. The pandemic and its consequences have increased burnout and are suspected to have worsened PTSD and moral injury among TACS. The healthcare system is just beginning to grapple with these problems. Summary COVID-19 significantly added to the pre-existing burden of burnout among TACS. We offer prevention and mitigation strategies. Furthermore, to build upon the work done by individuals and organizations, we urge that national institutions address burnout from a regulatory standpoint.

Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma system wellness white paper: An evaluation of wellness from a systems perspective

“…Provide ancillary resources, equipment, and patient care capacity to adequately care for patients during inpatient surges. 49,50 6. Foster an institutional culture of wellness through division and hospital wide events.…”

“…5. Provide ancillary resources, equipment, and patient care capacity to adequately care for patients during inpatient surges 49,50 …”

“We are in this together”: The power of social connection

“…For surgical residents, PTSD rates as high as 22% have been reported 28 with the care of trauma patients noted as one of the risk factors 28 . While the full impact of the pandemic has yet to be quantified, there is no doubt that it has taken an additional toll on our Acute Care Surgery community 29 . These issues are not only devastating for surgeons and their families but also negatively impact our patients with increased medical errors and decreased patient satisfaction 30 …”

“…28 While the full impact of the pandemic has yet to be quantified, there is no doubt that it has taken an additional toll on our Acute Care Surgery community. 29 These issues are not only devastating for surgeons and their families but also negatively impact our patients with increased medical errors and decreased patient satisfaction. 30 While the etiology or burnout is multifactorial.…”

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic-induced surgical restrictions on operational performance: a case study at the University Hospital of Ulm

“…The COVID-19 [1,2] pandemic in spring 2020 prompted rapid pragmatic responses at all levels of governments worldwide [3]. Due to pandemic-related infrastructure measures, personnel allocation and turnover, as well as illness including burn-out among staff [4,5], an estimated 30 million COVID-19-related surgical procedure cancellations occurred globally in 2020 [6]. Also, in Germany, the demanded and implemented restrictions on surgeries led hospitals of all sizes to instantly shift from full operational capacity to an exclusive emergency surgery program, resulting in a significant drop in inpatient treatments [7].…”