Workload metrics compliments for academic pursuits in pathology

Several clinical workload metrics have been developed and validated to provide a reasonable framework for compensation, workforce planning and accountability. Most Academic Pathologists have job descriptions that involve several diverse responsibilities outside the clinical service domain. Limited to the existing workload metrics, we continue to struggle not only amongst ourselves trying to structure our own complex and ever-growing work, but also communicating our needs with our academic system leaders. Moreover, the existing paradigm lacks the means for monitoring the safe boundaries or detecting “dangerous zones” at the pathologist's level as an interpretive operator beyond the mere quantification or qualification of their product (i.e. diagnosis). Occupational burnout for pathologists is not simply a function of their workload. This article highlights the need for complementary metrics for academic pursuits in pathology. It proposes a department-specific academic productivity complement and puts forth the idea of quantitating stress among pathologists. It is hoped that these two complements, used in concert with the existing clinical workload metrics, can inform decision making both at the individual and the system levels.