Physician burnout is on the decline after spiking to unprecedented levels during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a survey from professional group the American Medical Association (AMA).

The survey, which was released in early July, shows that 48.2% of physicians claimed to have at least one burnout symptom in 2023, down from 53% in 2022 and the record high of 62.8% in 2021. Before the pandemic, burnout had fallen from 44.4% in 2017 to 41.9% in 2019, according to an October 2023 study from Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

“It is a good sign that burnout has started to decrease, but the levels are still far higher than they should be, and are still at a concerning rate that has important negative impacts for patients, for payers, for the health system at large, [and] for the country at large,” Christine Sinsky, VP of professional satisfaction at the AMA, told Healthcare Brew.

Keep reading here.—MA

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First bankruptcy, and now a federal investigation. It’s safe to say Steward Health Care is not having a great year so far.

A spokesperson for the Dallas-based health system confirmed Friday to Healthcare Brew that Steward is facing a federal probe by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

“Steward Health Care can confirm it is aware of and cooperating with an investigation by the US Department of Justice. As a matter of policy, Steward will have no further comment on this investigation as it remains ongoing,” spokesperson Deborah Chiaravalloti said in an emailed statement.

The health system has encountered a series of issues in recent months, including its landlord reporting in January that the company owed $50 million in back rent as of December 2023. The company filed for bankruptcy in May, and while UnitedHealth Group’s Optum had expressed interest in buying Steward’s physician group, it pulled out of the deal in late June. Optum has not publicly commented on the matter, according to the Boston Globe.

Keep reading here.—CM

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Sound the alarm! US News and World Report has released its list of the 20 best hospitals in the country for providing the highest-quality care.

US News reviewed data for 5,000 hospitals in over 30 medical and surgical services for its 2024–2025 list. It evaluated performance on measures like mortality rates and preventable complications using data from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Twenty hospitals around the country were named on the Honor Roll—US News’s designation for the top-ranking hospitals in the country. It also recognized the top five hospitals in 15 speciality treatment areas, including cancer and cardiology.

Keep reading here.—CM