In Pursuit of Happiness: Creation of an Academic Hospitalist Wellness Committee and Well-being Survey

Background: Physician burnout poses a critical threat to the delivery of healthcare. A solution to this problem is a leadership imperative. Managing demands on physicians can prevent burnout and foster engagement. This study assesses stress and burnout within an academic hospitalist group and identifies areas to focus interventions on both personal and systemic levels. Methods: In 2014, a large multi-site academic hospitalist group acknowledged increased levels of provider stress in the setting of continued system expansion. The response was the creation of the Hospitalist Wellness Committee to focus on organizational development and exploring opportunities for faculty to thrive while maintaining productivity. The committee developed and implemented the Hospitalist Well-being Survey to collect baseline data from the group, identify root causes of discontent, and determine areas for intervention Results: Fifty-four hospitalists (77%) completed the survey. 74% of respondents expressed satisfaction with their current job and 52% satisfaction with work-life balance; however, 43% felt a great deal of stress because of their job. Conclusion: Opportunities for interventions fell into categories of mentoring, feedback, and resilience strategies. The creation of this committee and survey has influenced leadership and organizational changes within the hospitalist group and within the Department of Medicine. Objectively identifying a group’s culture, needs, stressors, and values balance demands of the job by elucidating supportive measures and areas for organizational improvement. Investment in faculty well-being can improve value for all in the modern healthcare system.