Psychological safety is crucial and cannot be undervalued in the continuing and challenging process of addressing physician burnout and prioritizing well-being. Dr. Gaggino’s guest, Karen Horneffer-Ginter, PhD, discusses how organizations and institutions can start to acknowledge and deal with the systemic problems causing burnout by creating a space where clinicians can openly express concerns without fear of retaliation or condemnation. Individuals must prioritize their own self-care and wellness in addition to organizational and institutional reforms. Karen Horneffer-Ginter believes It’s time to change the way healthcare is perceived and to value the humanity of people who care for others. Yes, burnout is a complex problem that calls for all hands-on deck. And Dr. Lia Gaggino and Karen Horneffer-Ginter will explore the concept of promoting a “safe-place culture” and the concept that clinicians can and should work towards creating an environment where everyone thrives and feels valued.
[00:33 -13:55] The Evolving Landscape of Wellness and Well-being in Healthcare
- Recognizing the Neglected Importance of Mental Health in Medicine
- Wellness vs. Well-Being: Exploring the Nuances and Evolving Definitions in Healthcare
- Adapting Language for Genuine Conversations: Addressing Burnout, Moral Injury, and Beyond
- Personalizing Wellness: Moving Beyond Individual Responsibility and Addressing Organizational Interventions
[13:56- 25:06] Challenges in Maintaining Boundaries and Well-being in Healthcare
- Healthcare professionals find themselves sacrificing their own well-being, time, and personal needs to attend to the needs of others, going above and beyond their duties.
- A distinction between work and personal life can be facilitated through rituals, similar to Mr. Rogers taking off his jacket and putting on his sweater.
- healthcare providers MUST regularly check in with themselves, assess their own well-being, and acknowledge their vulnerabilities.
- Healthcare professionals are often in a mindset of providing help rather than seeking it, which can hinder their own self-assessment and well-being.
[25:07 -39:20] Organizational Interventions and Advocacy for Well-being
- Profit: The need to ensure financial sustainability and keep the lights on in the business of medicine.
- Wellness: healthcare professionals taking care of their own well-being and finding a balance between personal and professional life.
- Organizational interventions: Call centers, hospitalist services, and neonatal nurse practitioners could address workload and provide support.
- Documentation and electronic health records: Dealing with the challenges and demands associated with electronic records and finding ways to improve efficiency and reduce administrative burdens.
[39:21- 49:53] The Importance of Self-Care and Support
- Prioritizing personal needs and seeking professional help when necessary
- Overcoming the stigma of seeking for professional help
- Taking intentional breaks from the work-related responsibilities with apps, family time, alone time, etc.
- Scheduling time for restorative activities and unplugging
[49:54 – 54:36] Closing segment Takeaway
You can reach Karen Horneffer-Ginter
Linked In: @Karen Horneffer-Ginter
Links to resources mentioned on the show
From Triple to Quadruple Aim:
Tait Shanafelt:
Physician Burnout: contributors, consequences and solutions https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/joim.12752
Full Cup, Thirsty Spirit –
http://www.fullcupthirstyspirit.com
Stanley Brown Safety Plan:
Not designed for wellness planning but an interesting outline to consider when under duress:
Other episodes you may like:
Ep 135
Physician Wellness: Find Your One Thing.
Ep 116
Physician Wellness Coaching: Proven Benefit!
Key quotes for Twitter:
“I think the sort of “well-being” term is an attempt to engage in a more nuanced conversation and have it be genuine and have it be something where we really are engaged at looking at authentic changes.”… Karen Horneffer-Ginter, PhD on The Evolution of Wellness Terminology
“I always had interest in the mind body connection, sort of like the mind body medicine, mind body spirit medicine. And so I think medical education was sort of the obvious path to end up on because of the intersection of looking at mental, emotional health and physical health.”… Karen Horneffer-Ginter, PhD
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