Organizational Biopsy®

More than 40% of physicians in the U.S. have reported experiencing at least one symptom of burnout. Research shows that addressing physician burnout not only enhances organizational well-being and culture, but is also crucial for improving professional satisfaction and delivering high-quality patient care.

American Medical Association Form Placement

But how and where to start?

The Organizational Biopsy® (PDF) is a validated well-being assessment tool and set of services developed by the AMA to help health systems comprehensively measure and improve professional well-being within their organization. 

The Organizational Biopsy assesses across four domains:

• Organizational Culture (leadership, communication, support, feeling valued, etc.)
• Practice Efficiency (workload, workflow, team structure, EHR time, etc.)
• Self-Care (vacation, work-life balance, time for health and wellness, etc.)
• Retention (intention to reduce hours, intention to leave)

Once the assessment is complete, organizations receive an executive summary of key findings, data analytics through an online dashboard, and national comparison data. AMA physician faculty contribute expertise and insights that inform interventions, research and broader efforts to advance well-being efforts. 

Why measure?

A well-being strategy that incorporates an annual well-being assessment is essential for evaluating and improving your organization’s overall health. Assessing both operational effectiveness and the well-being of physicians and care teams allows you to quickly pinpoint and implement impactful interventions. 

Annual assessments help organizations:

1. Identify and assess underlying drivers of burnout.
2. Increase understanding into the factors that create value.
3. Identify specific organizational needs to better promote professional well-being.

Criteria

The Organizational Biopsy is currently available to health systems with at least 50 physicians and/or advanced practice providers (APPs). Organizations intending to conduct an assessment must complete an agreement and set up an informational meeting with the AMA Assessment Team to plan and prepare for the assessment process. For health systems with Graduate Medical Education programs, a resident and fellow assessment is also available.

Organizational Well-Being Journey

From professional burnout assessments to targeted intervention strategies, the AMA is pleased to support health care systems across the country with guided and validated solutions.

Learn More (PDF)

Learn more

Apply to the AMA Joy in Medicine® Health System Recognition Program

Recognizing systems committed to improving physician well-being.

Access real-world solutions to common healthcare challenges

AMA STEPS Forward® provides resources to help organizations thrive.

Organizational well-being research

Seminal scientific research highlights the system-level issues that drive burnout and solutions to drive change.