Beware Mid-Career

Recently, the SHM Practice Management Committee has once again taken up the issue of “physician engagement.” Over the next few months, the committee plans to:

1. Create a repository of related resources on the SHM website, including physician engagement profiles for some hospitalist practices;
2. Initiate a dialogue on the topic of physician engagement on HMX (connect.hospitalmedicine.org), SHM’s social networking platform; and
3. Publish a “public domain” survey questionnaire that hospitalist practices can use. This is a crucial matter that remains a central concern for our specialty and for the safety and well-being of our patients.

Conclusion

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement advanced the idea of the Triple Aim (better care, better health, lower costs) several years ago as a guiding principle in the transformation of healthcare. More recently, a growing number of voices suggest that physician satisfaction is a crucial foundation of the Triple Aim.⁴ I submit that for hospitalists to fulfill their potential as healthcare change agents, we will need to build a professional experience that enables them to traverse mid-career challenges and make it to the professional finish line as engaged and well-adjusted members of the healthcare community.

Dr. Whitcomb is Chief Medical Officer of Remedy Partners. He is co-founder and past president of SHM. Email him at wfwhit@comcast.net.

References

1. Gabbard GO. Medicine and its discontents. Mayo Clin Proc. 2013;88(12):1347-1349.
2. Hinami K, Whelan CT, Wolosin RJ, Miller JA, Wetterneck TB. Worklife and satisfaction of hospitalists: Toward flourishing careers. J Gen Intern Med. 2012;27(1):28-36.
3. Drybye LN, Varkey P, Boone SL, Satele DV, Sloan JA, Shanafelt TD. Physician satisfaction and burnout at different career stages. Mayo Clin Proc. 2013;88(12):1358-1367.
4. Spinelli WM. The phantom limb of the triple aim. Mayo Clin Proc. 2013;88(12):1356-1357.
5. Hoff TH, Whitcomb WF, Williams K, Nelson JR, Cheesman RA. Characteristics and work experiences of hospitalists in the United States. Arch Intern Med. 2001;161(6):851-858.
6. Society of Hospital Medicine. A challenge for a new specialty: a white paper on hospitalist career satisfaction. Available at: https://www.hospitalmedicine.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/WhitePapers/White_Papers.htm. Accessed January 4, 2014.