Burnout in healthcare, especially among physicians, nurses and care team members, has become a critical issue, affecting the well-being of healthcare professionals and the quality of patient care. The American Medical Association recently reported that while physician burnout has decreased slightly over the past year, it remains alarmingly high.

Addressing this pervasive issue requires a multifaceted approach, integrating external design and internal self-regulation techniques. Organizations looking to lessen burnout and create spaces that support all staff members and patients can build facilities and cultures that prevent stress before it can happen.

Designing aligned and calming spaces

The physical workspace can significantly impact stress levels and overall job satisfaction. Poorly designed environments contribute to daily stressors that accumulate over time and contribute to burnout. When designing healthcare spaces, aligning facilities with the desired care delivery model is crucial for enhancing operational efficiency and reducing stress and burnout among staff.

This alignment often involves tailoring spaces to the specific needs and values of the healthcare environment, which vary widely among facilities. The overall experience and culture in a building are profoundly influenced by how well they support the intended feeling and functionality, ultimately shaping a more effective and supportive healthcare setting. As healthcare facilities managers plan renovations or new facilities, the goal should be to create buildings focused on prevention, not just recovery. Different design considerations include:

Universal room layouts. Implementing universal design layouts streamlines critical areas by ensuring equipment and supplies are always in predictable locations and significantly reduces the cognitive load for staff and enhances workflow efficiency.

Departments designed with workflow. Strategically positioning materials and supplies near nurse stations boosts efficiency and helps reduce staff burnout by minimizing travel distances. This layout design alleviates physical and mental strain and enables healthcare professionals to focus on delivering exceptional care while maintaining their well-being.

Incorporating the Disney model. By strategically managing how, where and when care team members and patients and their families interact, managers and designers can create an enhanced experience for all healthcare facility users. As with Disney World, this is achieved by separating in-costume — on-stage — areas from out-of-costume — off-stage — areas to intentionally create a separate experience for each group.

Ergonomic workstations. Providing ergonomically designed workstations is essential for preventing physical strain and fatigue among healthcare professionals. These designs ensuring workstations are tailored to support natural postures and reduce repetitive stress, and they minimize discomfort and physical exhaustion.

Resilience and break rooms. Creating designated areas for relaxation and recovery, such as coherence corners equipped with biofeedback devices, allows staff to practice stress-reduction techniques and recharge during their shifts. Incorporating break rooms and access to healthy food and personal items near work areas also allows staff to take a respite without fully leaving their departments, promoting efficient breaks and reducing stress.

Self-regulation and stress-busting techniques

External environment adjustments are crucial, but they must be complemented by effective internal stress management practices. Overcare — the state of excessive worry, anxiety or concern for others — can deplete emotional and physical energy, leading to increased stress and burnout. This highlights the importance of emotional self-regulation, and recognizing and managing overcare is crucial to maintaining personal and professional balance and effectiveness in healthcare.

Staff can manage their stress in many independent ways, starting by identifying and addressing disempowering thoughts and replacing them with positive ones. They also can embrace and understand their emotions, regulate their breathing to restore balance and practice silence to prevent the escalation of stressful situations.

Fostering positive feelings like appreciation or compassion helps restore emotional balance and reduces the physiological impacts of stress. Regular reflection through journaling or meditation can also help monitor and adjust emotional states. Combining these strategies with overcare management and thoughtful facility design can significantly enhance well-being and effectiveness.

Additional ways to create a more resilient approach to managing stress internally include:

Set healthy boundaries. Establish clear boundaries between your needs and the needs of others. This means knowing when to say no and prioritizing self-care without feeling guilty. Healthy boundaries prevent the depletion of your energy reserves and ensure you have the capacity to care for others effectively.

Develop a support system. Build a support network of friends, family and colleagues who understand the importance of balanced care. Sharing experiences and concerns can provide emotional relief and different perspectives, helping to manage overcare more effectively.

Use heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback. Use HRV biofeedback tools to monitor stress levels and adjust practices accordingly. HRV biofeedback offers real-time insights into physiological states, helping to maintain a balanced and coherent heart rhythm.

Addressing and reducing burnout in healthcare requires a holistic and proactive approach that integrates external architectural design and internal self-regulation techniques. By aligning physical spaces with the needs of healthcare professionals, organizations can create environments that support staff well-being and reduce stress. Coupled with effective internal practices, these design considerations foster a more resilient and supportive workplace.

Ultimately, creating spaces that prioritize prevention and well-being, combined with robust stress management practices, can create workplace cultures that support healthcare staff and patients.

Josh Ripplinger is a healthcare planner and partner at Wold Architects and Engineers. Julie Hutchinson is the CEO and founder of Core Performance.