Hematology AdvisorCompensation Models and Support Staff Influence Physician Burnout for Hematologists/Oncologists

In total, 411 full replies were included in the final analysis. The findings have been published in the journal Blood Advances.

A recent survey by the American Society of Hematology (ASH) reveals that hematologists and oncologists may be more susceptible to burnout when their compensation is solely based on clinical productivity. Conversely, the study found that the inclusion of advanced practice providers (APPs) in clinical support roles can help reduce burnout rates, especially among community-based physicians.

Key Points:

• The survey included 411 complete responses from 631 hematologists and oncologists.
• Burnout was reported by 36.5% of respondents, with 12.0% indicating a high level of burnout.
• The odds of burnout were significantly higher with an RVU-only compensation model (OR, 4.37; 95% CI, 2.00-9.58).
• Female physicians were more likely to experience burnout (OR, 2.56; 95% CI, 1.24-5.28), particularly in academic settings (OR, 6.84; 95% CI, 1.79-26.15).
• Working with APPs decreased the odds of burnout (OR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.20-0.80), primarily in community settings (OR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.12-0.65).

Additional Points:

• Career satisfaction was similar between academic and community physicians, with 68.9% and 64.5% respectively reporting satisfaction.
• Dissatisfaction with career and work-life balance was more likely among physicians compensated according to an RVU-only model in academic practices.
• High working hours at home and overall were significantly associated with dissatisfaction with career and work-life balance.

Conclusion:

• The study suggests that compensation models focused solely on clinical productivity may exacerbate physician burnout. However, the increased utilization of APPs in clinical practice could potentially mitigate high burnout rates, particularly among community hematologists and oncologists.

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