Well‐being and burnout: One size does not fit all

Abstract

Abstract Well‐being and burnout are concepts that have become well described throughout emergency medicine. In the past, both well‐being and burnout have been defined and addressed as a singular phenomenon, similar for all physicians, regardless of career stage. However, unique stressors may exist for physicians, as a function of their work environment and stage. In this concepts article we present clinician well‐being as a dynamic and continuous process, subject to unique factors along the professional lifespan. Specific individual and system‐level factors are discussed, ranging from demographic variables, to evolving administrative and professional responsibilities depending on the career stage of a clinician. This detailed description of stressors spanning an emergency physician's professional career may help create more targeted physician well‐being and burnout interventions.

Keywords

• burnout
• career stages
• emergency medicine
• physician well‐being
• wellness