Physician Wellness First

Have you ever taken the time to consider the culture of medicine in the U.S.? This is a major component of physician wellness, as the beliefs and values that are generally shared by the medical community impact us in ways we may not even realize. And while some of them are beneficial, others are actually harmful to both doctors and patients. In this episode, I explain the shared culture I see in the medical community and its impact on physicians. You'll also hear why the value we place on perfection doesn't serve us, common self-sacrificing habits we all need to be mindful of, and the customs and beliefs I hope we can all work together to bring to medicine. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2LcbfTn 

Did you know that rates of loneliness have doubled in the United States since the 1980s? Studies show us that greater than 50% of people say no one knows them well, and 40% of people report isolation or feeling that their relationships are not meaningful. Worse yet, these feelings are harmful to our health, and as physicians, we face unique situations that make us even more susceptible to this growing problem. In this episode, I explain how loneliness affects physicians in particular, and what must be done to address and proactively fight against it. Listen in to learn what is contributing to this growing issue, how feeling lonely harms our health, and what we can all do to combat the loneliness epidemic. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2QhWkwH 

Today we’re continuing our two-part series on organizational efforts to decrease physician burnout. Last week, I described assessment tools that might help us begin our efforts for change within our organizations, and this episode is following up with examples of targeted interventions for improving physician wellness. While every organization has its own unique needs and challenges, there are plenty of options for what institutions can do to keep their doctors healthy. Listen in to hear the types of interventions that have been successful, issues that make organizational efforts less likely to make an impact, and advice for supporting physicians in all aspects of their well-being. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2AD0LHR 

Did you know that greater than 50% of American physicians report symptoms of burnout? It’s a sad truth in medicine today, and it’s not only physicians who suffer as a result. Burnout leads to decreased patient satisfaction, decreased quality of care, and increased medical errors. This is an organizational issue that has far-reaching implications, and it's up to all of us to do something about this problem. So this week, we’re starting a two-part series addressing organizational efforts to decrease physician burnout. Listen in to learn what can be done within your institution to keep physicians healthy. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2BvNbYk 

Today’s episode tackles something that many physicians struggle with: setting boundaries. Though healthy boundaries are an important aspect of wellness, it is far too common for us to want to do more than we can and stretch ourselves too thin because we don’t know how to say “no,” or because we’re afraid to. But the truth is, we’re human. We can't do everything, and setting boundaries that communicate this is an act of self-care that can’t be ignored. If this is something you struggle with, listen in to hear the steps you can take to start setting healthy boundaries in your own life. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2qpqnmB 

Few things are tougher to deal with as physicians than mistakes in medicine or unanticipated outcomes. It’s something we all experience at one point or another, and I know how hard it can be to handle the regret. I also know how challenging it can be to be kind to yourself after something like that happens. So today, we’re going to discuss what I call FGOs, or Flipping Growth Opportunities. These situations are awful, and we can’t change them, but we can choose to be gentle with ourselves and practice self-compassion. Listen in to hear advice on how to do that, what we can learn from growth opportunities, and a mindfulness exercise to help you be kind to yourself when these situations arise. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2AtB4ub 

Welcome to the first episode of Physician Wellness First, the show dedicated to helping physicians learn to take care of themselves so they can take better care of their patients. My name is Dr. Kathy Stepien, and I’m a pediatric hospitalist, as well as the founding director of The Institute for Physician Wellness. Having worked in healthcare for over 30 years, I know what it’s like to experience burnout, and my mission is to help other physicians avoid this common problem.  The medical industry needs support for wellness now more than ever, and nothing is more important for that than the topic I’ll be discussing today: giving ourselves permission to set boundaries and identify what we need. Listen in to hear the common reasons we give ourselves for always putting others first, as well as how this hurts us, our patients, and our families. We’ll go through exercises to help you reconnect with your own needs, and end with a guided meditation that will help put you on the right path to wellness. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2As0acT