Burnout is Real: Prioritizing Self-Care as a Biologic Coordinator

Sep 2, 2025

Burnout is Real: Prioritizing Self-Care as a Biologic Coordinator

By Brianna Pepin

The work of a biologic coordinator is intense. Between prior authorizations, patient phone calls, insurance roadblocks, and pharmacy hold-ups, your days are packed—and emotionally draining. While we pride ourselves on being problem-solvers, advocates, and educators, we often neglect the most important piece of the puzzle: ourselves.

Burnout isn’t just exhaustion. It’s emotional depletion, detachment, and feeling like no matter how hard you work, you can’t catch up. It’s common in healthcare—but especially so in roles like ours where we carry the burden of navigating systems that aren’t always built with patients (or coordinators) in mind.

Recognize the Signs

If you’re finding it hard to care about outcomes you used to take pride in, dreading opening your inbox, or avoiding tasks you normally handle with ease—you might be heading toward burnout. Take a moment to assess how you’re really feeling. Are you constantly overwhelmed? Snapping at coworkers or patients? That’s not a personal failure—it’s a signal that your emotional reserves are running low.

Set Boundaries That Protect You

Boundaries aren’t about saying no to patients—they’re about saying yes to yourself. Stop checking messages after hours. Block time on your calendar for uninterrupted work. Communicate clear expectations with your team and providers about turnaround times. Saying, “I’ll need two business days to process this” is not unprofessional—it’s sustainable. You can’t be everything to everyone, and you don’t have to be.

Reconnect with Purpose

Burnout can make you forget why you started doing this in the first place. Take time to reflect on your impact. When was the last time a patient thanked you? When did your work make a provider’s day easier? When did you catch something that prevented a delay in care? Write it down. Save the thank-you notes. Post a sticky note with a win on your desk. These moments matter—and so do you.

Build Micro-Routines That Refuel You

Self-care doesn’t have to mean vacations or spa days. It can be taking your full lunch break. Stepping outside between calls. Doing a five-minute breathing exercise after a hard conversation. Set recurring reminders on your calendar to pause. Burnout thrives in chaos—rituals are your anchor.

Ask for Help (and Mean It)

You can’t outwork a broken system. If your workload is unmanageable, speak up. Use your metrics. Share your caseload. If your role has expanded but your resources haven’t, advocate for change. There’s nothing weak about asking for help—it’s leadership. You’re human, and you deserve support.

Summary

Biologic coordinators are the bridge between chaos and care. We juggle paperwork, manage expectations, and fix problems every day. But we are not machines—and we don’t have to burn out to prove our value. Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish. It’s the only way to keep showing up for your patients, your team, and yourself.

Let’s normalize self-care in our profession. Let’s check on each other. Let’s protect our energy the way we protect patient access—fiercely, consistently, and without apology.

💡 Want more dermatology and patient access insights? Subscribe to the BC Insider Newsletter for expert tips and resources! 🚀

At BC Educators, we are dedicated to empowering biologic coordinators, healthcare professionals, and patient advocates with the education, tools, and resources needed to optimize patient care. From expert-led webinars to hands-on training, we provide comprehensive support to help you navigate the ever-evolving landscape of specialty medications and prior authorizations.