Quality of Care and Quality of Life: Balancing Patient Safety and Physician Burnout

( Obstet Gynecol . 2024;144(3):e50–e55. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000005681) In 2000, the Institute of Medicine published a report called “To Err is Human,” which discussed the occurrence of errors within the medical system of the United States. As a part of this report, three aims (reduction of costs, improvement of patient health, and improvement of patient’s overall experience). However, the implementation of programming to meet these aims seemingly has created an additional challenge on physician well-being. The authors discuss here that the effects of these programs on physicians and their burnout rate must be considered. The authors repeatedly cautioned they did not want to halt nor blame any program in specific for an increase in physician burnout rate, however, in identifying this problem, it is crucial to consider it and the potential impact on patient well-being. The efforts to reduce patient mortality have been widespread and obviously necessary given the initial report.