Physician burnout isn’t getting worse, but that’s not exactly a win (Chief Healthcare Executive)

Burnout among physicians remains a persistent issue, and a new study suggests electronic health record (EHR) documentation after hours—known as “pajama time”—is a major contributor.

A study led by Lisa Rotenstein, M.D., of UCSF Health, analyzed over 10,000 family physicians between 2017 and 2023 and found that while burnout rates have remained high, efforts to reduce them have made little progress. Physicians often struggle to balance meaningful patient interactions with the administrative burden of documentation, leading many to complete records outside of work hours, further exacerbating stress and emotional exhaustion.