The Council for Resident Education in Obstetrics & Gynecology (CREOG) established
a task force to look into Physician Satisfaction and Wellness as a CREOG initiative
in 2014. The culture of residency is a setup for burnout due to high levels of stress
from heavy workloads, long hours, and personal life changes. Also, the challenges
of working with individuals who are sick, even dying, can negatively impact the emotional
health of physicians. Obstetrics & Gynecology physicians have a higher risk of burnout
and substance abuse when compared to nearly all other fields of medicine.
Wellness means caring for the caregiver to encourage professional satisfaction and
humanism in medicine. Wellness is a daily practice of behaviors that promote health
within the physician and the medical community.
Beginning in July 2017, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) made physician well-being
in the working and learning environment a priority. The common program requirements
have been revised to include the following:
Section VI. The Learning and Working Environment
Residency education must occur in the context of a learning and working environment
that emphasizes the following principles:
Excellence in the safety and quality of care rendered to patients by residents today;
Excellence in the safety and quality of care rendered to patients by today’s residents
in their future practice;
Excellence in professionalism through faculty modeling of:
effacement of self-interest in a humanistic environment that supports the professional
development of physicians
joy of curiosity, problem-solving, intellectual rigor, and discovery
Commitment to the well-being of the students, residents, faculty members, and all
members of the health care team.
The Obstetrics & Gynecology Residency Program at Augusta University/Medical College
of Georgia has established priorities for resident well-being for the academic year
to include:
Peer and Social Support Networks
Access to Medical and Dental Care
Access to Psychiatry/Counseling Services
Encouraging a Healthy Lifestyle
In order to meet these priorities, a “Wellness Program,” including education and activities
that focus on personal well-being and understanding of factors that lead to professional
satisfaction and resilience, is integrated into the residency curriculum. The program
will:
Stress a healthy lifestyle, highlighting the following:
Rethinking work-life balance,
Mitigating competing priorities,
Healthy diet,
Sleep hygiene,
Exercise,
Take control of your time,
Make time to get healthcare/help,
Cherish your loved ones,
Look out for your colleagues,
Find a mentor,
Give back,
Embrace the privilege of being an OB/GYN.
Educate residents annually on fatigue recognition and mitigation. Residents will complete
the Stress and Impairment in Residency module from CREOG and have a didactic session on fatigue.
Assess physician burnout. Residents will complete an assessment of “burnout” as part
of the semi-annual review process, such as the “Well-Being Index” offered online from
Mayo Clinic.
Develop “Wellness Houses” that will serve to promote small group mentorship and social
support. Each Wellness House will include a faculty mentor and a resident from each
level of training (also a fellow from sub-specialty training). Faculty mentors, with
the house members, will host activities 2 to 4 times annually, including community enrichment (service)
Establish a “Wellness Committee” to develop the curriculum for promotion of resident well-being and assess the effectiveness of the program. The committee will include 4 residents and 2 faculty,
one resident serving as the committee chairperson.
Participate in the annual ACOG Junior Fellow National Wellness Week, emphasizing the daily wellness pillars (physical, environmental, spiritual/mindful,
emotional/intellectual, and social wellness).
Make resident health maintenance for medical and dental care a priority, allowing
for planned absences up to four times annually for care. Other special circumstances
for health care, including maternity care, are also supported program-wide.
Make resources for mental health services or professional counseling widely available,
publically posting information regarding institutional resources (services are free-of-charge).
