Clin Colon Rectal Surg 2014; 27(02): 071-074
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1376172
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Work–Life Balance: History, Costs, and Budgeting for Balance

Siva Raja
1   Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio
,
Sharon L. Stein
2   Divsion of Colon and Rectal Surgery, University Hospital Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
09 June 2014 (online)

Abstract

The concept and difficulties of work–life balance are not unique to surgeons, but professional responsibilities make maintaining a work–life balance difficult. Consequences of being exclusively career focused include burn out, physical, and mental ailments. In addition, physician burn out may hinder optimal patient care and incur significant costs on health care in general. Assessing current uses of time, allocating goals catered to an individual surgeon, and continual self-assessment may help balance time, and ideally will help prevent burn out.

 
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