Anaesthesia

and burnout

Burnout in

mid-career

Dr Robin YoungsonAnaesthetic Specialist

CoFounder of Hearts in Healthcare

Anaesthesia

and burnout

Anesthesiology 20111 in 2 academic chairs of

anesthesiology suffering from

burnout

Anesthesiology 20111 in 2 academic chairs of

anesthesiology suffering from

burnout

Anaesthesia

and burnout

Burnout causes a 40% increased in heart attack and stroke – a bigger risk than

smoking, high cholesterol or lack of exercise. Those with the highest 20% of

burnout scores have a 79% increased risk of coronary heart disease!

Anaesthesia

and burnout

Pessimists The profound influence

of psychological

wellbeing

Long-term survival after

heart attack:

- pessimists have 4 times

higher death rate from

cardiac disease and 3

times higher mortality from

all causes of death

Optimists

Anaesthesia

and burnout

The profound influence

of psychological

wellbeing

Chances of getting clinical

influenza after standard

inoculation:

- 3 times as many

pessimists get influenza,

as optimists

OptimistsOptimists

PessimistsPessimists

Anaesthesia

and burnout

The caring

crisis

Two in five

health workers

are incapable

of caring for

patients

Photo credit: Guy Mayer

Anaesthesia

and burnout

Australia 2013

Anaesthesia

and burnout

The industrialization of

healthcare with a focus on

budgets, throughputs,

production, and targets has

dehumanized the system:

- Loss of compassion

- Patients suffering

- Care fragmented

- Health workers burning out

- Costs out of control

- The system in crisis

Anaesthesia

and burnout

…and emotional memories

of care last a lifetime

If health professionals

can’t care, what is the

impact on patient

outcomes?

The experience of care

triggers a powerful

biological response in

the patient…

Photo credit: Gus Chan

Anaesthesia

and burnout

The science of interpersonal connection

Anaesthesia

and burnout

Cascading reactions in the healing response…wellness genes up-regulated

new protein synthesis

tissue healing

enhanced immunity

lowered blood pressure

positive emotions

cancer genes activated

stress hormones

tissue breakdown

compromised immunity

raised blood pressure

negative emotions

wounding

Anaesthesia

and burnout

empathysympathy

non-

judgement sensitivity

motivationtolerance

of distressPaul Gilbert

model of

compassion

Anaesthesia

and burnout

“Approach” “Withdrawal”

kindness

appreciation

gratitude

mindfulness

the joy of service

Two competing systems of motivation:

pain

anxiety

fear

distress

Anaesthesia

and burnout

Anaesthesia

and burnout

kindness

appreciation

gratitude

mindfulness

self-compassion

choosing to love

their work

The only health professionals

who flourish in the broken

system are those who learn and

practice the daily habits of…

Anaesthesia

and burnout

The scientific evidence for

all these claims can be

found in the book that

launched Hearts in

Healthcare

Anaesthesia

and burnout

Anaesthesia

and burnout

Five daily practices that can

transform your life…

1. Choose your thoughts

on your journey to work

2. Small acts of kindness

3. Making the human connection

4. Find out first your patient’s concerns

5. Treat every patient like a family

memberPhoto credit:

Lewishamdreamer

Anaesthesia

and burnout

Anaesthesia

and burnout

heartsinhealthcare.com

{the movement for human-centred healthcare}