The epidemic of physician burnout has been well-documented, although many health systems are still struggling to foster a happier workforce. While gender-specific mechanisms for burnout have recently garnered attention, age-related differences have been less examined.

Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) who were referred to cardiac rehabilitation at hospital discharge had a 40 percent decreased risk of all-cause mortality within three years, according to a study published April 6 in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Still, women and minorities were significantly less likely than white men to be referred to this crucial treatment plan.

Non-clinical factors such as communication, personality and interactions with staff may be the keys to a high physician rating, according to a report that included almost seven million patient reviews and comments.

As physicians continue working later in life, health systems are confronted with a complex problem: How do you protect patients from physicians who develop Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of cognitive impairment while not unfairly penalizing those who are still competent?

Patient satisfaction and physician ratings are directly influenced by wait times before appointments, Vitals’ ninth annual wait time report suggests. Thirty percent of patients have walked out of an appointment due to a long wait, while 20 percent said they’ve changed doctors because of wait times.

One college dean is taking a new approach to attracting diverse talent to medical schools and fellowships across the country, and it’s one that involves taking a hard look at established prejudices and recognizing directors’ own biases.

Avoidance and mixed signals have long plagued the palliative care discussion in cardiology, but that could be changing, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 67th annual meeting in Orlando, Florida.

In an age of rapid physician burnout, one clinical cardiologist is calling for stronger practice policies to ensure a better work-life balance.