An overwhelming 55 percent of front-line health care workers are reporting burnout¹. Burnout is rarely an individual issue alone.
Dr. Andrew McLean, MD, MPH; Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences, recently discussed the impact on caretaker/provider health during times of crises as well as models for both individual and organizational wellness. This event was hosted by Great Plains Quality Innovation Network. Access the recording and presentation.
“The pandemic has taken a toll on the healthcare community. Dr. McLean offered tips we can employ to help our teams feel connected and practice habits of self-care. He also identified signs of stress and various coping mechanisms; helpful for both an individual and leadership within an organization. Based on feedback we received from attendees, we will look to offer additional sessions and training on this important and relevant topic. We are also working with stakeholders across the region to continue to offer high-quality resources to assist our healthcare community and partners,” shared Keri McDermott, Communications Director with Great Plains QIN.
One attendee commented, “I appreciated all the information shared. I am going to put some of these topics and resources on the white board in our conference room for staff to consider and review. Topics will include the difference between stress and burnout, resilient attitudes and behaviors and qualities of a compassionate workplace. All of these are important reminders. I will also be more cognizant of the need to talk to team members, listen and connect them with resources to help.”
Additional Resources:
Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress | COVID-19 Pandemic Response Resources
Fact sheets and other resources to support the health and well-being of communities impacted by COVID-19.
Sanford Health and University of North Dakota | Behavioral Health Bridge
Information on common behavioral health conditions and virtual behavioral health treatments to address the current needs of people in our community. The content on this webpage is a first step in providing reliable, valid and useful information about various elements of behavioral health in North Dakota.
1. Washington Post/Kaiser Family Foundation – Healthcare Workers Survey Toll of the Pandemic