SafeHaven™ released a film today in support of physicians and clinicians who need a safe space to seek help for burnout without fear of repercussions. The Medical Society of Virginia’s SafeHaven program launched in 2020 as an innovative solution to support healthcare providers’ well-being. “No one was supporting our clinicians for burnout. We believed by eliminating fear, their number one reason for not asking for help, we could save lives,” said Medical Society of Virginia’s CEO and EVP Melina Davis. “Through our conversations with our members and stakeholders, we learned [...]

Content repurposed from VITAL WorkLife.  BY SIMON MITTAL, MD, MMM May recognizes Mental Health Month across the United States. It’s a time to share information, stories, and resources about mental health. SafeHaven™ is dedicated to doing this work for physicians and other healthcare professionals by raising awareness about clinician well-being and burnout.   The first step in supporting healthcare professionals’ well-being and mental health is to recognize and understand the warning signs, and then take action.  Early Warning Signs Colleagues May Notice  Based on my experience as a healthcare executive and [...]

The Medical Society of Virginia is thrilled to partner with Georgetown University to offer the SafeHaven Coaching Certification program as part of Georgetown’s Health & Wellness Coaching Certificate. Download the program flyer. Participants of the program will: Be a part of the first cohort to expand the SafeHaven coaching network Pave the way for privileged, protected access to care for all healthcare professionals seeking support Receive up to 50 hours of CME upon completion (AMA PRA CATEGORY 1 CREDITS™) Register for our upcoming information session Tuesday, April 11, 2023 | 6PM – [...]

A statewide initiative has been launched in Virginia that seeks to cut burnout levels among physicians and other health professionals, and it includes a call to remove a major barrier to their well-being—the stigmatizing of those who seek the help of mental health professionals... Read full article at the AMA

Physician burnout is on the rise. Melina Davis is the CEO and executive vice president of the Medical Society of Virginia, and the way she’s changing that dynamic head-on is through her brainchild SafeHaven. Listen to the podcast How Healthcare Revolutionaries Think here. Read the companion piece here.

Ask a healthcare worker why they went into the medical field and you are likely to get a variety of answers, but one reason tends to be given more than any other: to help people. Medicine isn’t glamorous, it can be messy and stressful. Sleepless nights and hours of paperwork are hard to get through without the driving force of compassion. But what happens when the caring starts to fade? What is compassion fatigue? Compassion fatigue, as defined by Psychologist Charles Figley, PhD, is a state of emotional detachment and [...]

Those on the frontlines of America’s healthcare system have survived medical school and residency, logged in countless hours caring for patients in dire health, and navigated an ever-evolving healthcare system during extraordinary circumstances in recent years. This high-paced and intense environment has led to an increase in behavioral health issues and burnout among these necessary healthcare heroes. Burnout is a result of prolonged emotional exhaustion and extreme physical and mental stress. Medical professionals have a long history of under-reporting and under-recognizing burnout, often due to a combination of high-stress situations [...]

The Virginia Nurses Foundation promotes the SafeHaven™ Program to nurses at participating hospitals. Richmond, VA (September 9, 2022) – To support the needs of healthcare workers struggling with stress, burnout and the effects of COVID-19, the Medical Society of Virginia (MSV) conceived and manages SafeHaven™, which is implemented in partnership with VITAL WorkLife. The Virginia Nurses Foundation, with the support of its affiliate, the Virginia Nurses Association, has signed on to promote and offer this necessary program to Virginia’s nurses. SafeHaven™ was created by the passage of the Virginia legislation, [...]