There is an epidemic of burnout affecting radiologists and other physicians, and it’s only growing worse amid the COVID-19 pandemic. But the emerging practice of coaching—using positive psychology—may help address this issue, experts recently detailed in JACR.
This practice typically works to instill three fundamental skills in physicians to help them “achieve their best selves.” Those include mindful listening, open-ended inquiry and perceptive reflections, noted radiologists Michael D.C. Fishman, MD, and Syam Reddy, MD.
The two issued a “coaching call to action” on March 19, urging others to test this approach to help relieve rads overburdened with stress.
“Many radiologists may be unaware of the importance of professional coaching or fearful of approaching leadership to request coaching support,” wrote Fishman and Reddy, with Boston Medical Center and Radiology Partners, respectively. “Yet coaching can benefit individual clients and organizations on multiple levels, including well-being, engagement, communication, team building, resilience, and productivity.”
Such coaching uses a “strengths-based approach” to help physicians pinpoint positive emotions, create meaningful relationships increase engagement and purpose, and develop skills to cope with professional stress. Recent studies have backed the efficacy. A 2019 analysis incorporating 88 midcareer practicing physicians, published in JAMA, found that a six-month coaching intervention decreased burnout and emotional exhaustion.
Fishman and Reddy urged imaging providers to bone up on this process and give it a try. At their own institutions, they’ve done so by creating “coaching circles” and launching a program for residents by training staff rads in these principles. Other options run from offering financial support for employees to seek an outside coach to training supervisors to coach their direct reports.
“Coaching is a direct personal method to combat burnout, promote wellness, and encourage workplace engagement. These positive outcomes allow change within to create the happiness we seek,” the authors concluded. “Although external changes (public policies, economics, systemic racism, and natural disasters) are critical and encouraged, we can create immediate internal change using coaching principles and skills, which will strengthen our resolve for a positive future and help us achieve our best selves."
Read more of their advice in the Journal of the American College of Radiology here.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.