Editor’s note: ACR on Air, the official podcast of the ACR, dives into topics important to the rheumatology community, such as the latest research, solutions for practice management issues, legislative policies, patient care and more. Twice a month, host Jonathan Hausmann, MD, a pediatric and adult rheumatologist in Boston, interviews clinicians and rheumatology professionals on important topics in rheumatology. In a series for The Rheumatologist, we provide highlights from these relevant conversations. Listen to the podcast online at acronair.org, or download and subscribe to ACR on Air wherever you get your podcasts. Here we highlight episode 32, “The Importance of Mental Healthcare for Healthcare Providers,” which aired on July 5, 2022.
Mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression, are a concern for rheumatologists and their patients. Due to a lack of time and resources, rheumatologists may not pay proper attention to their mental health needs and neglecting those needs may lead to burnout. Patients may give short shrift to their mental health needs because they devote so much attention to the physical symptoms of their disease.
These are just some of the concerns Dr. Hausmann, ACR on Air podcast host, spoke about with Hanna Zembrzuska, MD, a psychiatrist, rheumatologist and a clinical assistant professor at The University of Iowa, Iowa City, holding appointments in the departments of Internal Medicine and Psychiatry.
Rheumatologists & Burnout
Burnout is a common problem for physicians. Dr. Hausmann and Dr. Zembrzuska looked at some of its causes within the rheumatology.
“We really get to know our patients, and many of them have a lot of symptoms. That is a big burden to carry,” Dr. Zembrzuska says.
Lab tests and imaging are a big part of rheumatologic care, which means rheumatologists often receive many messages from patients via electronic medical records asking about results. Keeping up with that correspondence can be challenging.
Also, some rheumatologists may feel a lack of control when trying to figure out what’s going on with their patients. Dr. Zembrzuska says, “I think that [frustration] contributes to burnout even though we love our patients and want to help them.”
As a physician, it can be challenging to have the instinct to help others while forgetting about self-care, Dr. Hausmann says—putting on that oxygen mask, before putting it on others.
Some institutions offer yoga classes and wellness sessions. But those options may add stress, becoming just one more to-do.