The Dr Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act

Abstract

This Viewpoint discusses the burnout crisis in American medicine that has negatively influenced patient care and the physical and mental health of US physicians, as well as the first dedicated federal effort aimed at improving the mental health of US physicians.

Addressing Clinician Burnout: A Unifying Systems Medicine Model with Meditation as a Heart-Mind Intervention

“…[ 25 ] This culminated in the enactment of the Dr. Lorna Breen, Health Care Provider Protection Act as groundbreaking legislation to establish and share evidence-based strategies to improve mental health of clinicians and prevent its untoward health and healthcare sequelae. [ 24 ] The present editorial advance the spirit of this initiative.…”

“…Despite the profound consequences of burnout among physicians and other healthcare providers, few steps have been taken to address the problem , in terms of policies and programs. [ 24 ] Recognizing the seriousness of burnout and mental health conditions in cardiology clinicians, the World Heart Federation, European Society of Cardiology, American College of Cardiology, and American Heart Association (AHA) jointly called for efforts to augment clinician resilience and well-being, in addition to structural changes in health care. [ 5 ] The US National Academy of Medicine issued its plan for health workforce well-being for strategies to improve well-being and resilience.…”

“Not what we signed up for”: Nurse shortages, physician scarcity, and time for collective bargaining?

“…By 2022, the problem of burnout and despair reached the point that the US Surgeon General declared that the time for incremental change had passed and that bold, fundamental change was needed (Murthy, 2022). In March of 2022, President Biden signed the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act named in honor of Dr. Lorna Breen who died by suicide on April 26, 2020 (Sindhu & Adashi, 2022). Medscape's 2023 report on physician burnout and depression survey (of more than 9000 physicians) found 53% burned out and 23% depressed (Medscape, 2023).…”