Title

The Evolving Role of the Chief Wellness Officer in the Management of Crises by Health Care Systems: Lessons from the Covid-19 Pandemic

UMMS Affiliation

Department of Emergency Medicine

Publication Date

2021-05-01

Document Type

Article

Disciplines

Health and Medical Administration | Infectious Disease | Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene | Virus Diseases

Abstract

Even before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, clinician burnout was a recognized occupational syndrome and a driver of suboptimal patient care. National calls for system-level interventions to improve clinician well-being led some health care organizations (HCOs) to appoint a Chief Wellness Officer (CWO). By incorporating CWOs into the emergency command structure, these HCOs were equipped to identify and address health care worker needs throughout the pandemic. CWOs learned important lessons regarding how HCOs can best address workforce well-being in the midst of a crisis. Key CWO contributions include identifying evolving sources of worker anxiety, deploying support resources, participating in operational decision-making, and assessing the impact of fluid pandemic protocols on clinician well-being. As HCOs seek to promote posttraumatic growth, attention to the well-being of the workforce should be incorporated into emergency management protocols with the goal of sustaining a resilient health care workforce.

Keywords

Covid-19 pandemic, clinician burnout, clinician well-being, health care organizations, HCOs, Chief Wellness Officer, CWO

DOI of Published Version

10.1056/CAT.20.0612

Source

Brower KJ, Brazeau CM, Kiely SC, Lawrence EC, Farley H, Berliner JI, Bird SB, Ripp J, Shanafelt T. The Evolving Role of the Chief Wellness Officer in the Management of Crises by Health Care Systems: Lessons from the Covid-19 Pandemic. NEJM Catalyst Innovations in Care Delivery. 2021 Apr 21;2(5). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1056/CAT.20.0612.

Journal/Book/Conference Title

NEJM Catalyst Innovations in Care Delivery

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