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Abstract Background Physician burnout is a pervasive challenge facing most health care organizations. The objective of this study is to document perspectives of family medicine physician faculty and administrators on institutional factors contributing to physician burnout and efforts to change organizational structure and processes to enhance physician wellness. Methods Twenty family medicine physicians at an academic health system completed semi-structured interviews between November 2021 and January 2022. Interview transcripts were coded thematically. Additional data came from a survey of physicians’ perceptions and experience with departmental wellness-oriented activities and two research needs assessment surveys in 2020 and 2022. Results Interviewees reported that faculty leaders’ advocacy regarding a collaborative physician-administration shared governance model was essential in organizational decision-making that directly affected faculty wellness. Joint accomplishment of a well-organized, successful primary care response to the pandemic proved the effectiveness of this new partnership. New programs such as prescription refill support, nurse practitioner inbox coverage, and support from the population health program were regarded as effective in reducing burnout and improving wellness. Wellness survey respondents reported improved levels of wellness. Noted areas for improvement included centralized appointment scheduling and uneven support for the tripartite mission of academic medicine due to competing clinical demands. Conclusions Despite the mounting challenges experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, faculty in the Department of Family Medicine noted enhancement of their well-being. More holistic support for academic physicians, including mentorship and compensation for teaching and research, is needed. Advocacy and subsequent organizational changes provide a model for academic family medicine departments to use to turn pandemic-related adjustments into long-term, wellness-inducing changes.
Çelebi et al. (Wed,) studied this question.