From my America Out Loud Pulse podcast with Joel Strom, DDS – Hope Amidst Healthcare Mental Health Struggles – https://www.americaoutloud.news/hope-amidst-healthcare-mental-health-struggles/
According to a recent survey of 13,000 physicians, about one fifth of doctors reported feeling depressed. And one fourth of the depressed doctors were suffering from clinical or severe depression that was not due to a so-called normal grief event. Worse yet, 7 percent of the doctors surveyed said they had considered suicide. This is almost double that of the general population (4 percent). Sadly, those surveyed said they kept their feelings to themselves fearing for negative impact on their career. And just like so many other negative emotions in medicine and society in general, Covid made them worse. The overwork during the pandemic left its mark on health care professionals.
Additionally, workplace violence in healthcare settings is higher than any other profession. Three quarters of non-fatal workplace violence injuries involved workers in health care and social work in 2020. One recent survey reported that 40 percent of health care workers had experienced on-the-job violence.
The increasing intrusion of corporate entities into medicine whether large health systems or private equity firms buying medical practices. Not only is there loss of control of the manner in which they practice, but many have lost their jobs to be replaced by lower cost employees. Many physicians have become cogs in the corporate machine, reduced to spending no more than 15 minutes with a patient, where the quick answer is a prescription. This represents a work situation that is contrary to the Oath of Hippocrates. Physicians who have spoken out against the short shrift given to patients have been fired.
Patient privacy is becoming a thing of the past as more data is shared with outside third parties. Insurers are using artificial intelligence (AI) programs to deny valid claims.
Heraclitus also wrote, “out of strife comes harmony.” In spite of all the negatives swirling around us, I believe life is good and compassionate, great medicine will prevail.
My guest and I will discuss his personal journey from total control over his years-long successful career to having it gone in one moment.
Bio
Dr. Joel Strom has practiced general dentistry for more than 40 years and is a former President of the California State Dental Board. He has extensive leadership experience in all aspects of the dental profession including education, regulation, professional leadership, clinical practice and as an expert witness. He is an Adjunct Professor at the Forsyth Institute in Boston, Massachusetts, former Chairman of Ethics in the Practice of Dentistry at USC, And Dr. Strom had a 12-year tenure on the California Science Center Board of Directors. Dr. Strom founded the Dr. Joseph Warren Institute, a 501c4 non-profit designed to educate and motivate health care professionals to become leaders in the political and public policy debate on health care reform.
