What acute behavior, exacerbated post-pandemic, accelerated the exit of experienced clinical staff?
Answer
Burnout.
Burnout, a state of chronic workplace stress, is identified as a significant factor that dramatically accelerated the exit of experienced healthcare professionals from active practice. This was heavily exacerbated by the intense demands placed upon staff during and immediately following the COVID-19 pandemic. Burnout often results in increased attrition, where individuals leave the profession entirely, or they shift laterally into less demanding administrative or educational roles, thereby shrinking the active pool of clinicians available for essential direct patient care responsibilities.

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