Ontario’s health-care workers are burning out; here’s how you can support them

While burnout amongst health-care workers was an issue even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the past two years has served to amplify the issue — both in public awareness and increasing pressure on an already stressed workforce.

“Our level of concern (about burnout) is quite high,” explains Dr. Adam Kassam, president of the Ontario Medical Association, adding the organization created a burnout task force prior to the pandemic. “Threequarters of physicians have reported some level of burnout this year — that’s up from 66 per cent last year, and a number in the 50s two years ago.”

Dr. Kassam said it’s impacting those at the end of their careers and those just starting.

“We’re seeing attrition — people leave the practice early, retire, leave the province, scale back work hours.” He adds, “We also see it on the younger side of things. Last week, what you saw during this year’s (Canadian Resident Matching Service) was that there were a lot of positions that went unmatched in family medicine — this may mean fewer and fewer are choosing primary family care.

“Those are the canaries in the coal mine.”

For Cathryn Hoy, RN, president of the Ontario Nurses’ Association, an already stressed industry has been further challenged by government decisions.

“The rate of burnout in health care is extreme — likely it’s safe to say it’s the worst ever in Ontario. Nurses and health-care professionals were working short-staffed for a decade or more before the pandemic,” Hoy says. “Government policies at the provincial level, underfunding, and the tendency of health-care employers to turn to the front lines — cutting nurses first — to balance the budgets had already taken an enormous toll on health care.”

Hoy adds the ONA first identified an impending nursing shortage two decades ago, but subsequent governments have failed to support the industry — and, in some cases, harmed it.

“The introduction of Bill 124 — which took away their right to freely negotiate a collective agreement, held their annual wage and benefits increases to a maximum of one per cent for three years, and other legislation that has made their professional lives unbearable, has caused thousands to retire early, leave for less-stressful jobs, or just quit nursing.

“This current government has taken what was already a difficult situation and made it unbearable — and dangerous — for both nurses and their patients.”

Dr. Doris Grinspun, CEO of the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario, says her organization will be releasing a report on May 12, 2022 — a comparative analysis examining the state of nursing, especially during a crisis. The organization is revealing a series of programs and policy solutions — some of which the province has already adopted, including increasing funding for enrolment in baccalaureate in nursing programs.

“The provincial government has increased by 10 per cent, but we’re asking for more,” Dr. Grinspun says, pointing to the fact that there’s a 35 per cent surplus in applications to nursing programs. With more funding, more students can be accepted, and eventually help to provide more resources to the health-care system.

Even some changes that would seem to be beneficial to the system are, in fact, causing harm, Dr. Kassam explains.

“One of the main factors that should help has actually been a detriment: technology,” he says, adding though it’s been a boon for patient care and access, it’s come at a cost. “With integration comes the need for documentation. Family doctors perform two hours of documentation for every one hour of care.

“Doctors are spending up to six hours a day on electronic documentation. What should have improved the system, has actually been a contributor to burnout and can take away from direct patient care.”

Without action, the challenges are going to get worse. Dr. Kassam states there are over one million Ontarians without a family doctor. Add to this an aging population and, pandemic or no, there is a crisis of care approaching. In addition to increasing funding, Dr. Grinspun points to the fact there are over 25,000 internationally trained nurses in Ontario, but the approval process is too long — forcing them to leave the profession or the province.

For Ontarians looking to support health-care workers during this time, there are some basic steps one can take to help alleviate the pressure on doctors and nurses alike.

“The best way that the public can show their respect and love is to wear a mask and get the full vaccine — either three or four shots, if you’re eligible,” Dr. Grinspun says. “Second, we need government to understand that without nursing there is no health care. All the way from the federal to provincial; to home care and long-term care. We need investments in nursing at all levels.”