RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 What Are Doctors For? A Call for Compassion-Based Metrics as a Measure of Physician Value
JF The Annals of Family Medicine
JO Ann Fam Med
FD American Academy of Family Physicians
SP 352
OP 354
DO 10.1370/afm.3132
VO 22
IS 4
A1 Zeller, Timothy Aaron
A1 Rhoden, Parker A.
A1 Pipas, Catherine Florio
YR 2024
UL http://www.annfammed.org/content/22/4/352.abstract
AB Modern measures of physician value are couched in terms of productivity, volume, finance, outcomes, cure rates, and acquisition of an increasingly vast knowledge base. This inherently feeds burnout and imposter syndrome as physicians experience an inability to measure up to unrealistic standards set externally and perceived internally. Ancient and modern wisdom suggests that where populations fail to flourish, at root is a failure to grasp a vision or true purpose. Traditional philosophical conceptions of a physician’s purpose center around compassion, empathy, and humanism, which are a key to thwarting burnout and recovering professional satisfaction. New compassion-based metrics are urgently needed and will positively impact physician well-being and improve population health.