Out of office
Facts at your Fingertips
By Emily Margosian, Assistant Editor, December 1, 2024
Physician burnout is on the rise. While the Academy offers many tools to alleviate administrative burdens and promote physician wellness, new survey data suggest that uninterrupted vacation time may play a key role in the fight against burnout.
Results of the cross-sectional study, which included 3,000 U.S. physicians, found that over half took 15 or fewer vacation days per year, with 20% taking five or fewer, and 70% reporting performing work on the typical vacation day (doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.51635). Top barriers preventing physicians from taking uninterrupted time off were identified as finding someone to cover clinical responsibilities, the financial impact of taking a vacation, and the volume of EHR inbox work to face on return to work. Despite these challenges, the study’s authors emphasize that vacation remains an important restorative activity, associated with improved physical and mental health.
See the graphic below for more on how vacation days and working on vacation impact physician burnout rates.
