Regarding the stress and burnout pandemic that is affecting nearly all kinds of employment in the modern world, the Covid crisis seemed to choose a particularly cruel moment to strike. Just before the pandemic, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported that over half of healthcare workers showed signs of burnout and, therefore, also high levels of job dissatisfaction. Then the pandemic hit and ushered in the most stressful period for all healthcare workers in recent healthcare history.
We are now at the point where those navigating the healthcare jobs market find healthcare employers falling over themselves to attract the best candidates. Health Jobs Nationwide, a healthcare recruitment service, say that this is good news for those looking for a job but, on the flip side, it has made the job market pretty unfriendly for employers. This is only to be expected in the wake of the disastrous pandemic, but not everything can be blamed on Covid. Indeed, those finding themselves looking at the options available and coming away singularly dissatisfied are quite a large minority. Moreover, the judgments they have made are based upon the quality of the healthcare institutions seeking their talent.
Nevertheless, for those already in the job but similarly dissatisfied, the route oftentimes has been to leave.
Doctors Leaving
For doctors, this minor exodus can present some problems. Of course, not all healthcare workers are suffering from burnout, but those that need a period of leave at the very least, and quite often are looking for a change of career. But of course, doctors (especially) have a set of highly advanced skills and qualifications that exist entirely within the realm of healthcare. In other words, a doctor, even one suffering from burnout, usually don’t want to work anywhere else.
But this does not mean that there are no options for physicians suffering from burnout.
Alternative Careers
Before getting on to the alternative careers open to doctors suffering burnout, it should first be noted that we should not judge these physicians harshly. A qualified physician in the position to leave typically has a long career of service behind them and is usually older. The effects of burnout can be acute, but they can also cause long-term health problems. For those who are a bit older, getting out of such a stressful job can literally be a matter of life and death.
So, with this in mind, here follows some alternative careers for physicians suffering from burnout – after a period of rest of course!
Telehealth
If Covid has had one undoubted effect, it is that it has increased the prevalence of telehealth programs at healthcare institutions. In a role as a telehealth consultant, a physician can even work from the comfort of their home and make prescriptions remotely.
Writing
“Writing” is of course not a specific job, and it can really take any number of forms. But if there is one thing that a doctor who served during the Covid pandemic has, it is a story to tell. A British doctor, Adam McKay, recently published an account of his experiences, and the book was an international best seller soon to be made into a film.
Consulting
A typical route for a professional approaching retirement age but not ready to hang up the coat just yet is to move into a consulting role. Instead of doing, consultants advise – and they certainly have the expertise and experience to make that advice valuable.
Ultimately, a qualified physician nearing the end of their career has a great deal to offer. And they can continue to offer that while cutting burnout from their life.
