4 Smart Moves a Family Physician Makes to Reduce Workload

4 Smart Moves a Family Physician Makes to Reduce Workload

Disturbingly, burnout among physicians, particularly family physicians, remains a growing concern. According to the 2024 Medscape Physician Burnout and Depression Report, 51% of family medicine physicians report feeling burned out, up from 48% five years ago. Much of this burnout stems from excessive bureaucratic tasks like paperwork and charting, long working hours, and the increasing computerization of medical practices. The challenge lies in finding ways to manage this workload effectively. In this blog post, we’ll explore four smart approaches that Dr. Angela Bacigalupo, a family physician at Burlington Family Practice in North Carolina has implemented to reduce her workload, limit after-hours work and prevent burnout.

Delegate Tasks Effectively

Physicians often feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of work needed to meet current guidelines for preventive, chronic, and acute patient care – as well as administrative tasks. A recent study revealed that primary care physicians would need to work more than 24 hours a day to provide the recommended care to their patients. This shows that there’s a disconnect between the care they are trained to offer and the constraints of a typical clinic workday. Time pressure is the major contributing factor. To address this delegate tasks wherever possible. Do not hesitate to offload routine tasks such as prescription refills, documentation, phone calls and electronic patient messages. Virtual scribes can help you with your documentation needs and make your workflows smoother.

Train Patients to Set Expectations

Create boundary setting with your patients. Set an agenda for each visit to keep it more focused and efficient. Have your staff assist with identifying the chief complaint and informing patients if time limits apply. Recap the agenda at the beginning of the visit and prioritize concerns together. Also, set clear boundaries for patient portals, explaining that not all messages get immediate responses, and some issues may need follow-up visits. This boundary setting keeps visits efficient and manages patient expectations.

Practice Lean Documentation

When it comes to documentation, primary care physicians spend excessive time on clinical notes. By simplifying and streamlining note-taking, physicians can save time and reduce stress. Smart-phrases or macros can help save time by limiting the key-strokes and minimizing repetitive typing. Dictating notes is another time saving strategy. Additionally, reduce note bloat by keeping notes concise and including only essential information. Avoid lengthy narratives and stick to short phrases. This not only speeds up the documentation process but also makes it easier to review notes in the future.

Optimize EHR Usage

EHR systems are powerful tools that, when used effectively, can enhance workflow efficiency and reduce workload. Use custom note templates to automatically pull in relevant information for visits, reducing manual entry. Explore features like search functions and QuickActions to streamline your workflow. Also customize your EHR by creating quick-access buttons or setting default options to better fit your workflow. This can make using the EHR more efficient and save your time.

Conclusion

Implementing changes may seem challenging. All you have to do is allow yourself the time and space to experiment new approaches. Set boundaries for your workload. Effective delegation, patient training, lean documentation, and EHR optimization are key steps in managing burnout and reducing after-hours work. By focusing on these areas, you can create a more balanced and manageable work environment. If you are looking to ease your workload and combat burnout, consider hiring scribes. Scribes can handle the documentation tasks, allowing you to prioritize patient care and your personal well-being. Choose Scribe4Me’s family medicine scribes - Reduce administrative burdens and set clear expectations for after-hours work!