Burnout Rate Lower Among Small Primary Care Providers

The burnout rate among providers at small New York City primary care practices was significantly lower than rates reported in national surveys, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine. AHRQ-funded researchers conducted an analysis of data gathered between 2015 and 2017 from 235 providers at 174 small, independent primary care practices. They found a burnout rate of 13.5 percent, compared to the 2014 national rate of 54 percent. Researchers suggested that the lower rates among small practice providers could be attributed to higher amounts of independence and autonomy, as well as these organizations’ greater capacity to learn and adapt. Data for the study were drawn from the HealthyHearts NYC trial, which is part of AHRQ's EvidenceNow initiative. Access the abstract.