Academic Medicine Open Forum

As the threat of COVID-19 wanes, health care workers are burned out and suffering. In a recent AAMCNews commentary, Dr. Dharam Kaushik calls on national, institutional, and departmental leadership to recognize the insidious nature of burnout and develop the necessary tools to prevent and treat it. He offers 5 practical changes that can be implemented quickly:

1. Peer-to-peer coaching sessions. Recognizing burnout is the first step toward finding solutions. Give faculty, residents, and trainees an opportunity to voice their feelings and get advice from peers and mental health experts on coping with burnout and promoting wellness.

2. A mental health resources page on each department’s website. List outreach programs and contact information for anonymous psychological health support. 

3. Training in supervising with empathy. Program directors, associate program directors, and faculty members should be offered training on supervising with empathy and fostering a genuine dialogue with their trainees on burnout and wellness. 

4. Institutional action plan. Leaders should implement a comprehensive action plan for their institutions to promote wellness and prevent burnout.
5.  Provider wellness committee. Leaders should establish a provider wellness committee from different departments and include physicians and advanced practice providers. “Wellness champions” could be identified from each department.

------------------------------
Stephanie Weiner
Director, Digital Strategy & Engagement
Association of American Medical Colleges
------------------------------

Interesting topic indeed!!!! I wonder what evidence-based research has been done on the topic of "intolerance to uncertainty" and how this impacts burnout. What coping mechanisms are available are feasible from an individual and/or team perspective. 

------------------------------
Hector Lopez
Associate Professor
USF Health Morsani College of Medicine
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-29-2021 08:20
From: Stephanie Weiner
Subject: Tip Tuesday: 5 actions to prevent and treat clinician burnout

As the threat of COVID-19 wanes, health care workers are burned out and suffering. In a recent AAMCNews commentary, Dr. Dharam Kaushik calls on national, institutional, and departmental leadership to recognize the insidious nature of burnout and develop the necessary tools to prevent and treat it. He offers 5 practical changes that can be implemented quickly:

1. Peer-to-peer coaching sessions. Recognizing burnout is the first step toward finding solutions. Give faculty, residents, and trainees an opportunity to voice their feelings and get advice from peers and mental health experts on coping with burnout and promoting wellness.

2. A mental health resources page on each department's website. List outreach programs and contact information for anonymous psychological health support. 

3. Training in supervising with empathy. Program directors, associate program directors, and faculty members should be offered training on supervising with empathy and fostering a genuine dialogue with their trainees on burnout and wellness. 

4. Institutional action plan. Leaders should implement a comprehensive action plan for their institutions to promote wellness and prevent burnout.
5.  Provider wellness committee. Leaders should establish a provider wellness committee from different departments and include physicians and advanced practice providers. "Wellness champions" could be identified from each department.

------------------------------
Stephanie Weiner
Director, Digital Strategy & Engagement
Association of American Medical Colleges
------------------------------