Demographics, Burnout, and Technology: From Frustration to Friend

Michael Tutty, PhD, VP Professional Satisfaction & Practice Sustainability, American Medical Association.  The demographics of the United States are shifting as the population ages and the number of workers per retiree shrinks.  The resulting changes will put a heavy strain on the healthcare system.  There is a projected physician shortfall of between 42,600 and 121,300 physicians by 2030.  While technology in most industries scales the workforce and creates efficiencies, many of today’s technologies in healthcare have done just the opposite.  In many cases physicians spend more time in front of computer screens than face-to-face with patients.  This presentation will present the changing demographics and their impacts on the healthcare workforce.  It will also cover how today’s technologies have not created efficiencies, but have caused burnout that puts additional pressure on the healthcare workforce.  It will conclude with a suggested path forward on how the healthcare system can leverage technology to meet the future demands placed on it.