The U.S. faces a shortfall of up to 86,000 primary-care physicians over the next decade, while the number of Americans 65 and older is projected to grow to 20% of the overall population.
Healthcare organizations, already stretched thin, are well aware that things are going to get worse.
To minimize any negative impacts of a supply-demand imbalance, many are taking a “throw things at the wall and see what sticks” approach. Investments in everything from mobile mindfulness apps to clinical decision support (CDS) software have surged. The hope is that a combination of advanced technologies and edgy apps will help eliminate burnout, a key cause of physician shortages.
The interest in high-tech fixes is understandable. Reducing just one primary-care provider departure saves the average healthcare organization $1M in lost panel revenue and recruitment costs.
But the right solution to burnout isn't more tools and apps. It’s
