Foldé Aims to Help Exorcise the Looming Specter of Burnout in Urology

Physician burnout is a growing concern in urology, impacting not only the well-being of healthcare professionals, but also the quality, safety, and accessibility of patient care.

In a recent article, Bowman et al. highlighted the widespread impact of burnout in the field, with nearly two-thirds of urologists affected. The authors emphasized that burnout is not simply an issue of individual resilience or wellness, but a systemic problem requiring changes to how healthcare is delivered.

They called for solutions that reduce administrative burdens, improve efficiency, support work-life integration, protect mental health, and leverage technology and policy to restore joy in urology practice.

Foldé believes that improving urinary catheterization may be a step in the right direction.

Difficult urinary catheterization (DUC) occurs when inserting a catheter into the bladder is challenging and requires repeated attempts. DUC is one of the most common reasons for urologic consultation and can add to the workload of already stretched urology teams.

Access to specialty care is another challenge. 61.5% of U.S. counties lack practicing urologists; patients living in these underserved communities potentially face long delays in receiving the escalated care their acute situation demands.

Foldé's patented urinary catheter was intentionally developed with ease of use in mind and with the goal of minimizing the need for specialized training. By trying to make first-time insertion more reliable for frontline healthcare professionals, Foldé hopes to reduce the need for urologic consultation, thereby improving the experience for both patients and their providers.

Foldé is excited to do its part in contributing to a more efficient, accessible, and sustainable way of delivering urologic care.

Reference

Bowman et al. (September 2026). Urology Practice.