“Burnout can lead to misdiagnoses,” Griner says. “As I emphasize in my book, it’s vital to spend time talking to and listening to patients – thorough patient histories and observation and a good physical exam are often the difference between an accurate diagnosis and a wasted battery of unnecessary diagnostic tests.”
Burnout can be characterized by detachment, diminishing empathy and emotional exhaustion – all of which can impede a physician’s ability to thoroughly and accurately assess patients, Griner says.