Physician Wellness- Doctors' Day is Not Enough

I read with skepticism the various Doctors’ Day emails from the administrators of the two different organizations I work within. They were all very complimentary, saying things like “We appreciate you every day” and “Please come by the doctor’s lounge at noon to get food and see us bestow the Physician of the Year award.” That’s nice. The POY award is voted on by, I don’t know…? They solicit nominations from hospital staff, nurses, and other physicians who work in the hospital. It doesn’t capture many non-hospital doctors who have privileges but don’t admit patients to the hospital. Who awards these physicians? My office bought us lunch… Did they ask what we wanted? We are just supposed to appreciate the gesture. Here, have some pizza and cake. Now be quiet and get back to work.

Is this once-a-year recognition supposed to placate physicians, and make them feel appreciated?

One of the emails lauded the chief wellness officer for his accomplishments. Supposedly, any physician within the system can log into the physician wellness community site, so I decided to check it out. As I am still working on my own wellness, ?I wanted to see what was offered. (As an aside, my office’s organization is like the ugly step-child of the “BIG” organization.)? When I clicked on the link, it had me sign in with my organization credential- ok, no problem. Then it asked for my network ID. Don’t have one. Click 'create one.' Enter University ID- don’t have one (ugly step-child). Click 'how to get one…', must be “sponsored,” but sponsorship only lasts a year. How do I get sponsored? Click again, fill out a form… then wait. Hmmm, I’m not feeling the wellness.

If I want to access wellness resources, it shouldn’t be so hard, especially within this renowned organization. Struggling physicians are not highly likely to reach out. When they do finally reach out for help, they are usually in dire straits. They have pushed through their challenges, like we all know how to do. They tell themselves what they’ve heard their entire early career, “Put your head down and just keep going.” So they persevere, until they just can’t… ?Some quit their jobs at this point. Some quit their lives. They feel shame that they can't cut it.

Some big healthcare organizations contract out their wellness services. The organization pays to have the program implemented for their physicians and APPs, and the providers have access to counseling, coaching, and concierge services at no cost. This is particularly nice for the coaching-curious. However, it may also be mandated as part of a focused physician practice improvement plan. So, although it is supposed to be confidential, the physician must sign up, explain to the intake coordinator what’s going on and why they’re interested in services, and then be assigned a coach. (The physician can read through coach profiles to narrow the choice.)

Several issues related to confidentiality are immediately obvious. Who has access to this information? If the coach keeps some notes for herself, who can request access to those notes? How much should the coach divulge to the organization in the case of an FPPE? What are they required to submit? If one of these done-for-you programs is not offered, other resources should be available.

"Access to wellness services should not be so hard..."

As someone who struggled for years without readily accessible wellness services, I know how it feels to be burned out. I know how it feels to be expected to just put your head down and push through.? I did that. I became a horrible person. The only people I wasn’t horrible to were my patients. Everyone else in my life felt my wrath.

I was also someone who tried to start wellness services at my hospital. Initially, there was support, both financially, in the form of a grant from our hospital foundation, and from the administration, in the form of lip service. When Covid hit, everything dried up. And, because I was not a designated Chief Wellness Officer, and did not get paid for the time and effort I put into trying to make the Wellness Committee and its services viable, I quit and took it upon myself to become a physician coach.

How can physicians support their own wellness? There is a need for readily accessible, confidential services.

But it’s essential to have organizational change. ?Not just some pizza and cake.