Physician Well-Being in Practice

Despite a recent surge of interest in physician well-being, the discussion remains diffuse and often scattered. Lingering questions of what wellness entails, how it is personally applicable, and what can be done, remain pervasive. In this review, we focus on policy-level, institutional and personal factors that are both obstacles to wellness and interventions for potential remedy. We outline clear obstacles to physician wellness that include dehumanization in medicine, environments and cultures of negativity, barriers to wellness resources, and the effect of second victim syndrome. This is followed by proven and proposed interventions to support physicians in need and foster cultures of sustained well-being from policy, institutional, and personal levels. These include medical liability and licensure policy, peer support constructs, electronic health record optimization, and personal wellness strategies. Where sufficient data exists, we highlight areas specific to anesthesiology. Overall, we offer a pragmatic framework for addressing this critical concern at every level.