Pediatricians work in a specialty dominated by documentation demands, complex family dynamics, and relatively low compensation. And for many pediatricians, these realities take a toll. In fact, according to Tebra’s 2025 Physician Burnout survey, over a third of pediatricians are experiencing symptoms of burnout, and 52% have been experiencing symptoms for over a year. 

In this article, we examine drivers behind pediatrician burnout — from well-child visit charting requirements to the uncompensated care coordination that extends well past the last appointment. We also explore practical approaches that can help reduce burnout. 

Pediatrician burnout is a chronic state of mental, physical, and emotional depletion that builds up over time due to sustained work demands. Unlike ordinary tiredness that goes away after a good night's sleep, burnout accumulates and affects how providers think, feel, and connect with patients.

Burnout often shows up as emotional exhaustion, a growing sense of detachment from patients and families, or a fading sense of accomplishment in clinical work.

Tebra's survey found that pediatricians report 3 primary symptoms:

What makes burnout particularly damaging is how it erodes the very qualities that drew many pediatricians to the specialty in the first place. Sadly, when you're running on empty, things like patience, warmth, and a genuine investment in children's well-being become harder to sustain. 

Tebra's survey found that 36% of pediatricians have reported at least 1 symptom of burnout. And 52% of pediatricians reported experiencing burnout for more than a year.

This isn't a temporary rough patch. It's a sustained condition that, if not addressed, compounds over time. 

When asked to identify their single biggest burnout driver, pediatricians who took part in Tebra's survey consistently named the following factors: 

It's not surprising that 2 of the top 3 drivers relate directly to patient interactions. Burnout in pediatrics isn't just about paperwork. It's also about the emotional labor of managing complex family dynamics while constantly running behind schedule.

Pediatric visits, by nature, require more administrative work. They often involve developmental screenings, vaccinations, and milestone tracking which means more documentation. Additionally, pediatricians routinely communicate with other providers and specialists to advocate for their patients — which takes a tremendous amount of effort, coordination, and time.    

Pediatrics is uniquely documentation-heavy because of its emphasis on preventive care. For example, a single well-child visit can generate more documentation than many adult sick visits. Well-child visits require extensive templated fields covering growth parameters, developmental milestones, anticipatory guidance, and safety counseling. 

Mandatory developmental screenings at specific age intervals add another documentation layer. Tools like the ASQ-3 (Ages and Stages Questionnaire) and M-CHAT (Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers) require detailed recording of results, interpretation, and follow-up plans.

Plus, when screenings flag concerns, the documentation burden multiplies. Referrals to specialists, coordination with early intervention services, and tracking to ensure families follow through all require additional charting and communication.

Pediatricians administer more vaccines per patient than any other specialty. And each vaccine requires documentation of:

Plus, compliance tracking for patients who fall behind on schedules creates ongoing administrative work that extends well beyond the appointment itself.

Beyond direct documentation, pediatricians spend significant time on care coordination that often does not generate revenue. Communicating with schools about accommodations, coordinating with therapists and specialists, and completing prior authorization requests for medications and services all take time that’s not reimbursed.

And much of this work happens after hours. Physicians call it "pajama time," referring to the charting and inbox management that extends the workday well past the last patient appointment.

Tip: AI-assisted documentation tools can significantly reduce charting time. Practices using Tebra's AI Note Assist report completing notes 25% faster, which translates directly into less after-hours work.

The daily demands of caring not only for young patients but also for concerned and highly engaged parents place significant emotional and operational strain on pediatricians. High visit volumes, constant digital communication, and the growing responsibility of managing complex medical and mental health needs make it increasingly difficult to sustain a balanced practice.

Financial pressures push many pediatric practices toward higher visit volumes. When reimbursement per visit is low, particularly for Medicaid patients who make up a large portion of pediatric panels, the math often requires seeing more patients to maintain practice viability.

The result is appointment slots that feel too short to address everything families bring up. This leads to pediatricians who describe feeling rushed, unable to provide the level of care they want to deliver, and constantly behind schedule.

Patient portal messages have increased significantly over the past several years. And while digital communication can improve care, it also creates an expectation of rapid response that extends the workday.

Additionally, managing parental anxiety, especially around common childhood illnesses, consumes significant time that isn't compensated. The result is a high volume of non-urgent messages that are difficult to manage without additional support staff.

Pediatric mental health needs remain urgent, yet specialist availability hasn't kept pace. Primary care pediatricians increasingly manage anxiety, depression, and behavioral issues that would previously have been referred out.

These types of complex cases require more time per visit, more documentation, and more emotional energy. Social determinants of health — including food insecurity, housing instability, and family stress — add complexity that extends well beyond traditional medical care.

Pediatrics consistently ranks among the lowest-paid medical specialties. When high administrative burden combines with relatively low compensation, the resulting imbalance accelerates burnout.

Pediatricians often serve patient populations with high Medicaid enrollment, and Medicaid reimbursement rates frequently don't cover the true cost of care. This financial pressure creates a cycle where practices see more patients to stay viable, which increases documentation burden, extends work hours, and deepens burnout.

Pediatricians in Tebra's survey voiced this frustration directly:

"Primary care, especially pediatricians, deserve better compensation. Less regulations should be mandated, especially by those not in a medical field."
— Pediatrics, Baby Boomer, Oregon

While systemic issues like reimbursement require policy-level solutions, practices can address documentation burden and workflow inefficiency with the right technology and processes.

The ROI on workflow improvements often becomes evident within 90 days through reduced overtime, improved collections, and lower staff turnover.

Addressing pediatrician burnout requires both individual coping strategies and practice-level interventions. And while personal resilience matters, it can't compensate for broken workflows and unsustainable workloads.

For pediatricians, a more sustainable path forward requires:

Ready to see how Tebra's integrated platform can reduce documentation burden in your pediatric practice? Schedule a free, personalized demo today.