Addressing Staffing Shortages and Burnout in Cardiology: Strategies for Provider Practices

The healthcare industry is facing a major spike in staffing shortages, fueled by burnout, stress, and lingering effects from the COVID-19 pandemic. And without meaningful change, these challenges will only get worse. According to NCHWA projections, the U.S. could face a shortage of 187,130 physicians by 2037. 

These numbers have significant implications for all stakeholders — from burnt-out providers, to patients struggling to get appointments, to payors seeing increased costs due to delayed care and worse outcomes. 

In cardiology, patients are experiencing an average wait time of 26.6 days for non-emergency appointments, almost 10 days longer compared to 2013. 

In this article, we’ll explore how:

• A value-based care model offers cardiology practices a path to reduce burnout, manage staffing shortages, and improve patient care.
• Fee-for-service models often lead to rushed visits, misaligned patient loads, and inefficiencies that drive provider dissatisfaction. 
• Value-based care allows cardiologists to focus on patients who benefit most from specialized care, improving clinical outcomes and provider satisfaction. 
• Chamber helps cardiology practices transition to value-based care by providing back office support, technology tools, contracting assistance, and a peer network.  

The Opportunity for Value-Based Care 

VBC offers an opportunity for cardiology practices to thrive despite the most prevalent challenges facing cardiology practices today: staffing shortages, provider burnout, and inefficiencies in patient care.

In a fee-for-service system, cardiologists are often forced into high-volume, high-pressure schedules that prioritize quantity over clinical nuance. This model not only leads to rushed visits and missed opportunities for prevention, but also leaves providers navigating amorphous cases that don’t always align with their training or goals - contributing to burnout and inefficiency. 

Value-based care (VBC) offers a better path. Rather than reducing volume, VBC ensures that the volume of patients providers do see fit the clinical paradigm their practice is built for. It enables cardiologists to focus on the most appropriate patients - those who truly benefit from specialized care - and structure their time around meaningful interventions. This alignment improves outcomes, reduces unnecessary complexity, and supports sustainable, satisfying practice models. 

“Value-based health care connects clinicians to their purpose as healers, supports their professionalism, and can be a powerful mechanism to counter clinician burnout,” according to an article published in Academic Medicine. 

How Chamber Eases the Transition to VBC

One of the most significant barriers to adopting a VBC model is that providers lack the time, resources, or expertise to navigate this transition. The demands of day-to-day patient care, compounded with staffing shortages and an overflow of administrative work, leave little room for providers to focus on shifting care models.

This is where Chamber steps in. As a VBC enablement partner for cardiologists, we provide the tools, expertise, and support practices need to access and succeed under VBC contracts. Chamber’s comprehensive approach to VBC empowers cardiologists to succeed without overwhelming the provider. Our four-pronged strategy includes:

1. Technology: Real-time insights, task management tools, automated risk assessments, financial metrics, and clinical guidelines all integrate into a user-friendly platform for cardiologists.
2. People: Chamber reduces administrative strain through back office and care team support.
3. Contracting: By simplifying the payer contracting process, Chamber helps cardiologists access and deliver on new VBC contracts, ensuring they get compensated for delivering quality care.
4. Community: Working with Chamber grants cardiologists access to a network of other forward-thinking cardiologists who can share insights and strategies for growth.

Reducing Burnout with Back Office and Administrative Support

One of the most immediate ways Chamber can help alleviate the strain of staffing shortages is by providing back office and care team support. In fact, 62% of providers report being burned out from administrative tasks. With limited time, resources, and staff spread thin, delivering preventative care — the key to improving cardiovascular outcomes — becomes increasingly difficult. 

By streamlining workflows and ensuring more efficient care delivery, we help cardiology practices manage growing demands without overburdening their teams.

Chamber’s support for cardiology practices includes:

• Care team support: Patient scheduling, reminders, and ongoing education; assistance with care coordination between network cardiologists, PCPs, and other specialists; and real-time ADT alerts through our technology platform.
• Contracting support: Serving as the primary point of contact for payers and equipping practices with the tools needed to succeed in value-based care contracts.

By handling these essential tasks, Chamber helps practices streamline workflows by eliminating bottlenecks and improving process efficiency. Providers and staff can refocus on patient care, rather than administrative burdens.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

The shift to VBC can feel daunting, especially in light of staffing shortages and increased demands. But with the right support, this transition doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Chamber is here to provide the infrastructure, resources, and expertise needed to to ease the transition to VBC. 

Learn how Chamber’s back office and care team support can transform your practice. Contact us here to discover how we can help your team transition to VBC with ease.

‍