Elements of team-based care in a patient-centered medical home are associated with lower burnout among VA primary care employees.
BACKGROUND
A high proportion of the US primary care workforce reports burnout, which is associated with negative consequences for clinicians and patients. Many protective factors from burnout are characteristics of patient-centered medical home (PCMH) models, though even positive organizational transformation is often stressful. The existing literature on the effects of PCMH on burnout is limited, with most findings based on small-scale demonstration projects with data collected only among physicians, and the results are mixed.


OBJECTIVE
To determine if components of PCMH related to team-based care were associated with lower burnout among primary care team members participating in a national medical home transformation, the VA Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT).


METHODS
Web-based, cross-sectional survey and administrative data from May 2012.


METHODS
A total of 4,539 VA primary care personnel from 588 VA primary care clinics.


METHODS
The dependent variable was burnout, and the independent variables were measures of team-based care: team functioning, time spent in huddles, team staffing, delegation of clinical responsibilities, working to top of competency, and collective self-efficacy. We also included administrative measures of workload and patient comorbidity.


RESULTS
Overall, 39 % of respondents reported burnout. Participatory decision making (OR 0.65, 95 % CI 0.57, 0.74) and having a fully staffed PACT (OR 0.79, 95 % CI 0.68, 0.93) were associated with lower burnout, while being assigned to a PACT (OR 1.46, 95 % CI 1.11, 1.93), spending time on work someone with less training could do (OR 1.29, 95 % CI 1.07, 1.57) and a stressful, fast-moving work environment (OR 4.33, 95 % CI 3.78, 4.96) were associated with higher burnout. Longer tenure and occupation were also correlated with burnout.


CONCLUSIONS
Lower burnout may be achieved by medical home models that are appropriately staffed, emphasize participatory decision making, and increase the proportion of time team members spend working to the top of their competency level.
VA Puget Sound Health Services Research & Development Center of Excellence, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Seattle, WA, USA, christian.helfrich@va.gov.
Christian D
CD
Helfrich
Emily D
ED
Dolan
Joseph
J
Simonetti
Robert J
RJ
Reid
Sandra
S
Joos
Bonnie J
BJ
Wakefield
Gordon
G
Schectman
Richard
R
Stark
Stephan D
SD
Fihn
Henry B
HB
Harvey
Karin
K
Nelson
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000379:methods; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods