PA Burnout Is Not a Personal Failure. It’s a System Failure.

“Healthcare burnout impacts increasing numbers of providers”

 We hear that headline frequently. PAs face significant pressures to balance heavy patient loads, navigate complex medical decisions and interdisciplinary collaboration, and deliver quality care within fast-paced clinical environments. In a recently published article, approximately one-third of PAs experience burnout. Contextual factors appear to drive burnout risk rather than demographics such as gender, underscoring the need for tailored, system-level interventions. While limitations exist, including reliance on cross-sectional U.S. based studies, these findings highlight burnout as a critical challenge for the PA workforce. Coordinated efforts by healthcare leaders, educators, and policymakers are essential to promote PA well-being and workforce sustainability.

This systematic review and meta-analysis, conducted by Bock, Knight, and Twumasi, investigates burnout prevalence among PAs. ​ The study aims to provide updated insights into burnout rates and associated factors, considering the growing PA workforce and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. ​

The key findings found that the pooled burnout prevalence among PAs is 33.2%. The study indicated that burnout prevalence varies widely across practice settings, specialties, and measurement methods. ​Contextual factors, such as workplace culture and organizational support, were identified as key drivers of burnout rather than demographic factors like gender. ​

The implications of the study were that burnout among PAs can lead to increased turnover, strained team dynamics, and compromised care quality. ​ Addressing burnout is critical for workforce sustainability and patient care. ​Regulatory bodies should integrate burnout prevention into training, licensure, and continuing education standards. ​ Systemic reforms, such as improved staffing ratios and mental health support, are essential. ​It is important that further studies should explore modifiable risk factors like role clarity, scope-of-practice constraints, and organizational culture to develop targeted interventions. ​

Approximately one-third of PAs experience burnout, highlighting the need for coordinated efforts by healthcare leaders, educators, and policymakers to address this critical issue. ​ Tailored, system-level interventions are essential to support PA well-being and ensure the sustainability of the healthcare workforce.

​There is a critical need for PAs to assume leadership roles in healthcare organizations. Their participation can help to address the issues that are arising within the healthcare systems regarding burnout. As indicated, addressing burnout is critical for workforce sustainability and patient care.

Reference

Bock, A., Knight, A., & Twumasi, R. (2026). Burnout among physician assistants and physician associates: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PsyArXiv. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/xgc5s_v1