What is causing contract medical officers to face burnout?

Question

Accepted Answer

Contract Medical Officers Face Burnout Due to Overwhelming Workload and Systemic Issues

Contract medical officers are experiencing burnout primarily due to an exponentially increasing workload driven by rising Covid-19 cases, coupled with systemic issues including understaffing, inadequate support, and job insecurity. The daily strain of managing a high patient-to-doctor ratio, extended working hours in personal protective equipment (PPE), and a lack of clear career progression contributes significantly to their deteriorating morale and well-being. The situation is further compounded by delayed payments for on-call duties, creating financial and emotional stress.
Escalating Patient Load and Understaffing

The surge in Covid-19 cases since early April 2021 has placed an immense burden on contract medical officers (MOs). Many are assigned to Covid-19 teams, where the number of patients requiring significant care, particularly those in Category 3-5, has increased dramatically. This surge has occurred without a commensurate increase in staffing, leading to an average of only 55 MOs per shift for approximately 6,000 beds. At full capacity, this translates to a ratio of one MO for every 109 patients, a situation that has frequently led to patients sleeping on canvas beds or the floor due to exceeding bed counts.
Compromised Patient Care and Personal Well-being

The extreme doctor-to-patient ratio inevitably leads to a compromise in patient care and an increased risk of medical errors. Doctors are compelled to work up to 12 arduous hours in PPE without opportunities for basic needs like drinking water or using the restroom. While the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends N95 mask usage for a maximum of four hours, this guideline is unfeasible given the current patient load, increasing the risk of self-contamination and prolonged exposure. At the writer's workplace, seven MOs had active Covid-19 infections at the time of writing, underscoring the direct health risks faced by these frontliners.
Lack of Support and Job Insecurity

Beyond the immediate clinical pressures, contract MOs face significant systemic challenges. Unpaid on-call claims, amounting to approximately RM1,000 monthly, have been outstanding since January 2021, adding financial strain, particularly for those who are sole breadwinners. Furthermore, contract MOs lack job security and a defined pathway for specialisation, contributing to low morale and uncertainty about their future career prospects. This environment has resulted in many colleagues falling ill or being unable to cope with the distressing work conditions, leaving those who remain to handle an even more demanding workload.
Inadequate Management Responses

While management has offered resilience training and counselling services, these measures do not address the root cause of burnout: the unmanageable workload. The fundamental issue of insufficient staffing and the unsustainable demands placed upon the existing medical workforce remain unaddressed. This situation extends beyond Covid-19 wards, with other departments like orthopaedics and general surgery also suffering from understaffing, forcing contract MOs in these areas to sacrifice their well-being and family time. The prevailing sentiment highlights a need for a robust support framework that genuinely addresses the challenges faced by doctors, rather than solely focusing on their individual resilience.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

What is causing contract medical officers to face burnout?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends