Pandemic Demands Push Doctors From Medicine

The Coronavirus Pandemic has been tough on most of us.  Tell me something I don't know.  The virus frightens us, threatens us and has driven us to change change our behaviors and lifestyles--and that includes the very doctors we look to to save us.

United Press International (UPI) reports on a survey by The Physicians Foundation of more than 3,000 U.S. physicians to determine the impact COVID-19 has had on medical practices.  One significant discovery points out the emotional toll fighting Coronavirus has had  on doctors.

Survey say - eight percent of physicians had closed their practices, a number considered “staggering,” and four percent of doctors planned to close up shop within 12 months.

The majority reported losing income during the pandemic, that could be expected. But 58 percent of doctors reported feeling burnout, much higher than 40 percent who said the same just two years ago. "Key findings about emotional impacts of COVID-19 included that half of physicians had experienced inappropriate anger, tearfulness or anxiety as a result of the pandemic. About 30% felt hopeless, and 8% had thoughts of self-harm. Others turned to drugs and alcohol or sought mental health help"

The number one source of frustration for physicians was the lack of adherence of the public to the requested safety pandemic guidelines, in particular wearing masks and social distancing.