Challenges and Strategies in Approaching One of the Most Un-Well Specialties Nationally

In a 2012 national survey of 7,288 physicians, Neurologists ranked 3rd for burnout. Neurology is the only medical specialty that has both one of the highest rates of burnout and the lowest rates of satisfaction with work-life balance; 1. Recent published 2 study of 1,671 neurologists found: 60% of neurologists reported at least one symptom of burnout; 53 percent had high emotional exhaustion, 41 percent felt high depersonalization and 21 percent had a low personal accomplishment score; Neurologists work a median of 55 hours per week (compared to 50 hours for all U.S. physicians) and 56 percent of neurologists indicated that they had too little support staff to assist them in their work. Furthermore, only 32% of neurologists indicated their work schedule leaves enough time for personal/family life compared to 41 percent of all physicians, a rate lower than every other medical specialty.