Combating pharmacist burnout: A model for critical care clinical pharmacy faculty

Burnout is a growing phenomenon among health care professionals in whom the prevalence has been estimated at greater than 50%. The adverse outcomes of burnout affect individuals, institutions, and patients. Although burnout literature in the profession of pharmacy is somewhat lacking, emerging data suggest a similar prevalence. Pharmacists who experience burnout typically suffer from emotional exhaustion and/or a reduced sense of personal accomplishment. The critical care setting introduces several elements that increase the risk of burnout in health care providers, including pharmacists, who practice in this area prompting professional organizations to call for action to address burnout. Critical care pharmacists with faculty appointments have additional responsibilities that may precipitate burnout. In response to anecdotal symptoms of burnout, four critical care pharmacy faculty members at the University of Illinois at Chicago developed and implemented an off‐service rotation model designed to provide clinical track faculty members protected, off‐service time to fully engage in academic responsibilities utilizing a tenured clinical faculty member, and a rotating schedule of clinical coverage to assure continuity in patient care in each of the areas (medical intensive care unit, cardiac care unit, and emergency department). Compared with the 24 months prior to implementation, academic output increased during the 24‐month period following implementation of the model. Importantly, there was no evidence of burnout from the personal accomplishment domain of the Maslach Burnout Inventory‐Health Services Survey for Medical Professionals, although high levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization were present.