THE REAL COSTS OF BURNOUT
The real costs
of running on empty.
Understanding workplace burnout is the first step toward supporting people and strengthening healthcare institutions.
What is burnout?
“Burn-out is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.”World Health Organization · 2019 · Reference 3
Three dimensions
- Energy depletion or exhaustion
- Distance from work, negativism, or cynicism
- Reduced professional efficacy
WHO classifies burnout as an occupational phenomenon, rather than a medical condition.
Estimated annual US costs from burnout-related physician turnover and reduced clinical hours.
2019 study · Reference 1Estimated annual economic cost per employed physician in the same model.
2019 study · Reference 1Of physicians in the AMA’s 2025 survey reported at least one burnout symptom.
2025 survey · Reference 4A cost that extends
beyond the individual.
A 2022 AMA-reported analysis estimated $260 million in annual excess healthcare expenditure attributable to burnout-related primary care physician turnover. The model used pre-pandemic turnover estimates. [6]
Unresolved burnout can contribute to time away from work, intentions to leave, and early retirement. It can also be associated with tension, irritability, disrupted sleep, and difficulties with memory, attention, and concentration.
These are possible associations, not symptoms experienced by every person. Physiological findings, including cortisol, vary across studies.
IMPACT ON HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
- Employee offboarding
- Decreased Productivity
- Higher Turnover
- Decreased Work/Life balance
- Increased Mistakes by Medical Personnel
- Institutional Liabilities
- Lost Revenue
Research in focus
Approximately $4.6 billion in costs related to physician turnover and reduced clinical hours in the US. This equates to roughly $7,600 per employed physician each year. [1]
Increasing numbers of health workers are taking extended sick leave and early retirement owing to unresolved burnout. [2]
The AMA reported that approximately 41.9% of physicians experience clinical burnout. This figure describes at least one burnout symptom among 2025 survey respondents. [4]
“On any given day, one in three physicians is experiencing burnout.” [5] Supplied estimate; the specific NIH article and date have not been identified.
Approximately $260 million attributable to PCP burnout-related turnover. [6]
Burnout is associated with exaggerated somatic arousal including tension, irritability, sleep impairment, and above-normal blood levels of cortisol. [7] Physiological findings vary across studies; elevated cortisol is not a universal finding.
Burnout may lead to impaired executive functioning, poor memory, concentration and attention; and difficulties in cognitive functioning and sleeping. [8]
REFERENCES
- Han, S., Shanafelt, T. D., Sinsky, C. A., Awad, K. M., Dyrbye, L. N., Fiscus, L. C., West, C. P., & Goh, J. (2019). Estimating the attributable cost of physician burnout in the United States. Annals of Internal Medicine, 170(11), 784–790. Read study.
- Journal of International Medical Research; September 13, 2022. Citation supplied; article title and authors require confirmation.
- World Health Organization. (2019). Burn-out an occupational phenomenon: International Classification of Diseases.
- American Medical Association. Physician burnout rate continues to decline, falling to nearly 42%. 41.9% refers to at least one symptom among respondents to the 2025 survey.
- National Institutes of Health. Citation supplied without an article title or date. The supplied “one in three on any given day” estimate requires a specific source and is labeled as a supplied estimate above.
- American Medical Association. (2022). AMA cost analysis examines primary care physician turnover.
- World Psychiatry (2016), 15, 103–111. Citation supplied; article details require confirmation before attributing specific physiological findings.
- Journal of Psychosomatic Research (1999), 46, 591–598. Citation supplied; article details require confirmation.
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