Burnout in Physicians: A Coaching Approach

{"blocks":[{"key":"S1n0E","text":"Can you share a bit about your journey from practicing medicine to to coaching?","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":79,"style":"BOLD"},{"offset":0,"length":79,"style":"fontSize_20"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"Afgef","text":"Neal Sundberg inquires about Dr. Jessica Singh's journey from practicing medicine to life coaching. She shares it was an unintentional transition, as many people do not leave their medical profession so abruptly. Despite emergency medicine being a great field that provides exposure to various health conditions, Dr. Jessica felt disillusioned, as she wasn't taught about the business of medicine, administrative operations, and other key components during her training. After a particularly low point in her life in 2018, she took a 200-hour yoga teacher training course that radically transformed her perspective, making her realize the importance of nurturing health in a non-competitive, respectful learning environment, which she experienced for the first time in over 8 years. Dr. Jessica began practicing yoga with her father, which helped him cope better during his transition into retirement. It was during her year of fellowship that she came into talk with a coach who was employed to facilitate group coaching for faculty members. This experience opened new dimensions for her as it gave her a glimpse of the power of coaching and allowed her to understand the hidden aspects of her colleagues that she would have been oblivious to otherwise. This triggered her curiosity on why these coaching methods weren't a part of medical education, given their powerful impact. The pandemic's advent and the increasing cases of burnout triggered her shift towards assuming a holistic approach to health and healing from the root. She shares that the change was not smoothly planned but was based on the desire to contribute to improving the system and to heal herself.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"PQgQJ","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"4geTx","text":"What are some specific considerations that people should know about coaching physicians?","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":88,"style":"BOLD"},{"offset":0,"length":88,"style":"fontSize_20"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"I4Qp5","text":"Dr. Jessica Singh and Neal Sundberg discussed the specific considerations for coaching physicians. They discussed how physicians are often too busy to engage in coaching or self-improvement, as they are constantly moving from patient to patient. It creates an environment where processing grief, trauma, and even personal growth can be immensely challenging. Coaching physicians on personal well-being can be difficult due to the hierarchial structure in medicine which mitigates peer-to-peer dialogues. Additionally, demonstrating the value of coaching through tangible metrics is necessary, but can be demanding. Discussing return on investment and the effects of coaching on patient outcomes are essential when communicating the benefit of these services to health care organizations or individual physicians. Even more challenging is explaining the intrinsic value and personal growth that comes from coaching, which does not result in a tangible degree or certificate. Therefore, an understanding of the unique professional and personal challenges that physicians face, coupled with a formidable business development strategy, is necessary when coaching this population. Dr. Singh also highlights a concerning trend of physicians leaving medicine due to burnout and the potential role that coaching could play in addressing this issue.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"tSvUN","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"15AGv","text":"How do you describe the root causes of burnout amongst physicians?","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":66,"style":"BOLD"},{"offset":0,"length":66,"style":"fontSize_20"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"t5gsX","text":"Neal Sundberg started off the conversation highlighting the issue of burnout among physicians and queried Dr. Jessica Singh about the root causes of this problem. Dr. Singh emphasized that the burnout is not due to individual factors but rather due to the organization as a whole. She pointed out that she has experienced burnout and had to work on herself before being able to help others professionally. She mentioned her experiences of coaching over 20 physicians, highlighting that it's the organization, not the physician that causes burnout. Dr. Singh referenced Dr. Tate Shanafelt, the first chief wellness officer, and his work in optimizing the clinical environment for patient care. She outlined drivers of burnout, noting the aspects of workload and job demands, culture and values, work-life balance issues, performance measurement and purpose alignment. She concluded highlighting the misalignment of purpose causing burnout and the decisions made early in life that lead to this path, as well as the impact of heavy debts. Neal Sundberg concluded the discussion by asking Dr. Singh about her real-life examples.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"0F1Bg","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"AVPDd","text":"Do you have case examples that can bring this work to life?","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":59,"style":"BOLD"},{"offset":0,"length":59,"style":"fontSize_20"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"zqWgl","text":"In this section, Neal Sundberg and Dr. Jessica Singh discuss case examples that bring their work to life. Dr. Singh discusses how she adopted yoga as a therapeutic tool after it helped her father. As a student, she also noticed that her peers were struggling in their high-stress, high-stakes fellowship programs. She started to incorporate it into her coaching sessions with fellow students, noticing that the clarity and focus in the coaching sessions greatly improved. She also noticed the clear manifestation of stress symptoms disappear as they incorporated this method into their routine. Dr. Singh also adds the importance of open dialogues around mental health, discussing the integration of therapy and coaching, especially in the medical field where stress and burnout are common. She shares her experiences of helping clients to get connected with mental health professionals alongside her coaching. They also discuss their transitions careers, highlighting the process of reestablishing their identities outside their respective professions. In efforts to make coaching more accessible, Dr. Singh is launching a podcast where she coaches other physicians live, allowing others to witness the coaching process. Despite the vulnerability associated with this format, she views it as an impactful way to reach a larger audience. Neal Sundberg recognizes and praises her courage and the potential impact of her initiative.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"OqaDF","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"fMLgn","text":"What do you think is still missing in how the healthcare system tries to address physician well-being?","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":102,"style":"BOLD"},{"offset":0,"length":102,"style":"fontSize_20"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"zSTVJ","text":"Neal Sundberg and Dr. Jessica Singh discuss the systemic issues affecting physician well-being in the healthcare system. Sundberg opens the conversation, raising questions about what's still missing in the industry's approach to physician well-being. Dr. Singh responds, stressing the need for healthcare organizations to view physician well-being as a process improvement approach, much like patient quality and safety measures. She points out the problems in the work environment that contribute to physician burnout and frustration, such as administrative processes and unpleasant or toxic work conditions. She proposes that having someone internally analyze the factors causing these issues could significantly help improve well-being. Dr. Singh also highlights the financial strain on the healthcare system when physicians leave, considering the cost of a physician leaving is about one and a half times their salary. She further explains, however, it’s not only about the monetary loss but also about the impact on patients, team dynamics, and overall workflow. Both Sundberg and Dr. Singh touch upon the importance of sustainability for providers and the cost of burnout. The conversation ends with a discussion about how the patient-provider interaction is now missing due to constraints on time and the introduction of new technology, which has deeply affected communication and engaged patient interaction. The doctor proposes integrating coaching into medical education to enhance shared decision making and patient engagement, thus improving physician well-being overall.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"Devd8","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"O7Ktu","text":"What has the experience of building NYU's Coaching Program been like?","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":70,"style":"BOLD"},{"offset":0,"length":70,"style":"fontSize_20"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"UlMo0","text":"The process of building the NYU's coaching program has been fairly diligently described by Dr. Jessica Singh. According to her, the process was like a 'mental marathon.' She stated that she took many coach training to learn different styles and to accommodate the responsibility of building something so significant. She integrated numerous unique components such as laser-focused coaching and group coaching, narrative medicine, and research. Moreover, health and wellness were integrated longitudinally throughout different aspects of life. Dr. Singh emphasized that a coach doesn't need to be a healthcare professional and they need to walk the talk. She also highlighted that her work involved considerable mental bandwidth, innovation, figuring out resources, and finding her mental peace through nature and meditation to work smarter and be present.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"zl2qa","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"7qxKY","text":"What are your hopes for the future of coaching?","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":47,"style":"BOLD"},{"offset":0,"length":47,"style":"fontSize_20"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"sqlGZ","text":"According to Dr. Jessica Singh, her hopes for the future of coaching are that it becomes more mainstream and a part of education from an early age. She believes coaching can strengthen thinking muscles and optimize our potential as human beings. She anticipates more awareness, recognition, and expansion of humanity in coaching that can complement emerging technology. She also speaks of the importance of having soft skills and more effective communication for young learners to fulfill their needs, which is a powerful toolbox.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"RxjsE","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"o0hPH","text":"Final thoughts?","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":15,"style":"BOLD"},{"offset":0,"length":15,"style":"fontSize_20"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"SkwNQ","text":"Neal Sundberg and Dr. Jessica Singh contribute their final thoughts to wrap up the show. Neal Sundberg opens by suggesting different topics: things they didn't discuss, things they want to promote, ways listeners can contact them, or anything else of importance. Dr. Jessica Singh appreciates the chance to be a part of the podcast and emphasizes the importance of forming deep connections with people in her coaching journey. She stresses the importance of going into meetings with an open mind and genuine intentions to connect. This, she believes, is key to building a meaningful relationship and sustaining oneself in any career, especially coaching. She also urges her listeners to contribute value to society beyond just running a business. Dr. Jessica Singh also encourages listeners to create their own paths and be comfortable with vulnerability and transparency. In response, Neal Sundberg thanks her for her contributions not only to the podcast but also to the coaching field.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"jmDMK","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}}],"entityMap":{}}