Strong Leadership Linked to Lower Burnout Among Primary Care Providers in Federally Qualified Health Centers

A new study has found that burnout affects 30% of primary care providers at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), with significant implications for job satisfaction, clinic leadership, and patient care. The research, conducted through a cross-sectional survey, examined how burnout relates to providers’ perspectives on quality improvement (QI), patient experience measurement, and workplace culture.

The study surveyed 74 healthcare providers from 44 urban FQHC clinics, achieving a 52% response rate. Researchers used a single-item burnout measure adapted from the Physician Worklife Survey, along with validated assessment tools from other established surveys. Regression models controlled for provider demographics and clinic fixed effects to determine associations between burnout and workplace factors.

Findings revealed that providers experiencing burnout reported higher work pressures, lower job satisfaction, and less supportive leadership. Those who felt overwhelmed by patient demands were more likely to experience emotional exhaustion and stress. Conversely, providers working in clinics with facilitative leadership, where leaders actively supported QI efforts and encouraged team collaboration, were significantly less likely to report burnout.

The study also suggested that engagement in QI efforts may be associated with lower burnout levels, but only when providers felt supported by leadership. Clinics where providers had structured opportunities to discuss and implement changes in patient care showed reduced burnout rates, indicating that strong leadership and a supportive work environment may serve as protective factors.

The study’s focus on a single FQHC network may limit generalizability. Additionally, the study could not determine whether QI engagement reduces burnout or if providers who experience less burnout are simply more likely to engage in QI. Future research is needed to explore which aspects of leadership and workplace culture most effectively mitigate burnout and promote provider engagement.

“As healthcare systems, including those that care for underserved vulnerable populations, move to more value-based payment structures, they will increasingly rely on providers in FQHCs in their leadership and QI roles to make changes to support patient care and make improvements to care delivery and care experience,” the study authors concluded.

Reference
Quigley DD, Slaughter ME, Qureshi N, Hays RD. Associations of Primary Care Provider Burnout with Quality Improvement, Patient Experience Measurement, Clinic Culture, and Job Satisfaction. J Gen Intern Med. 2024;39(9):1567-1574. doi:10.1007/s11606-024-08633-w