Kootenai | Kootenai Health | Issue 1, 2022

Kootenai Health is one of 44 health care organizations recognized by the 2021 Joy in Medicine™ Health System Recognition Program. This American Medical Association (AMA) program recognizes health systems with a proven commitment to preserving the well-being of health care team members by taking steps that have been proven to combat work-related stress and burnout. A national study surveying physicians and other professionals who worked in health care systems during the COVID-19 pandemic found that 38 percent said they felt anxious or depressed, 43 percent reported work overload, and 49 percent had burnout. Morale and Well-Being Bring JOY IN MEDICINE “Kootenai Health has been on a journey to support physician and advanced practice provider well-being since 2017,” Kootenai Health Chief Physician Executive Karen Cabell, D.O., said. Acultureofwell-being The link between health care provider well-being and high-quality patient care is inextricable. Kootenai Health is proud to have recently expanded resources related to mental, physical and emotional well- being to support team members and ensure they have the tools to continue to provide the best care for an ever-growing patient population. Kootenai’s multidisciplinary Well-Being Committee regularly meets to promote a practice environment that supports wellness and satisfaction by ensuring the organization leadership goals, structures and systems facilitate a healthy professional work life. Free, confidential counseling sessions, wellness blogs, techniques aimed at resiliency, fitness and massage sessions, literature, online resources and more are available to all Kootenai Health employees, physicians and advanced practice providers. “We’ve been taking incremental steps year over year to create a culture of well-being,” Dr. Cabell said. “This award is recognition for those efforts. The AMA acknowledged our efforts with a Bronze award, and we will continue to work toward the goal of a Gold award.” Aplan toprevent burnout Launched in 2019, the Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program is a component of the AMA’s practice transformation efforts, an initiative to use evidence- based solutions to address the physician burnout crisis. Candidates for the Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program were evaluated according to their efforts to reduce work-related burnout on a system-wide level. “The recognition program offers a road map to guide health system leaders who are interested, engaged and committed in efforts to fight the root causes of burnout in the health care workforce,” AMA Vice President of Professional Satisfaction Christine Sinsky, M.D., said. “The 44 health systems recognized this year by the AMA are creating momentum in the health care community for a united commitment to wide-spanning change in the culture of medicine that emphasizes professional well- being in health care.” 8