In the burnout epidemic, is mindfulness the new opioid?
At a recent annual exam for one of us (Walter), the medical assistant had checked heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, and oxygen saturation. Inquiring cheerfully about the Fifth Vital Sign, she flashed the 10-point pain scale of emojis ranging from beaming to grimacing. The only mention-worthy pain was an occasionally aching meniscus from a forgettable high school football career.
It was refreshing that she didn’t ask about burnout. Everyone else was. …
In the burnout epidemic, is mindfulness the new opioid?
