RICHMOND, VA (May 2, 2022) The Medical Society of Virginia’s SafeHaven™ program has over 4,000 physicians, PAs, nurses, pharmacists, and medical students enrolled, allowing them to seek support and well-being services while they provide care to others. SafeHaven™ resources and benefits are extended to family members while protecting the healthcare clinician’s confidentiality and medical licensure. SafeHaven™ has seen a 47 percent utilization rate, far exceeding the traditional Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) proving the demand for a protected assistance program. SafeHaven™ offers a comprehensive set of Well Being Resources that include [...]

By Russell Libby, MD The COVID-19 pandemic has added a new dimension of stress for physicians. Most of us live with some degree of anxiety and occasional depression, and it might be argued that it reflects some of the traits that drive us to become physicians. Our altruism, intuitive and learned skills and work ethic create a high standard against which we measure our achievement and professional satisfaction. In the best of circumstances, we are challenged to find balance in our lives and are increasingly prone to burnout. COVID-19 has impacted our personal [...]

A new Mayo Clinic Proceedings article led by the American Medical Association explores the relationship between COVID-related stress and work intentions of U.S. health care workers. The article found that physicians, nurses, and advanced practice providers are at the highest risk of reducing clinical work hours or leaving their practice, with one in five physicians and two in five nurses intending to leave their practice altogether. Factors associated with a greater intention to reduce work hours or leave a practice include higher levels of burnout, stress, workload, fear of infection, [...]

Via the Medical Society of Virginia Blog. Read More Here. There’s no question COVID-19 has up-leveled physician stress and burnout — which you know all too well was already a challenge for medical professionals. Quarantines. Increased patient loads. Staff absences and shortages. Fear of exposure. Supply anxiety. New PPE protocols. Vaccinations and vaccination status concerns. Decreased practice revenue and increased costs. Patient fear. Misinformation. Telehealth visits and their related technology demands. Delayed patient health screenings and treatment. The list goes on. And that’s all on top of issues already facing physicians and PAs [...]

BY ELAINE K. HOWLEY | SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 Since March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic was first officially declared, doctors, nurses and other clinicians have stepped up and shouldered burdens they never anticipated. They rose to the challenge magnificently, caring for the ill while protecting themselves and their families. But their commitment to helping others has come, in many cases, at no small cost to themselves. Even many of those who didn’t contract the coronavirus have changed forever... Read the Full Story Here

#NPSADay is a reminder and call to action to help everyone prevent physician suicide, including health organizations, health systems, hospitals, medical societies and practices. It’s a time to talk — and to act — so physicians’ struggles don’t become mental health emergencies. SafeHaven™ is committed to raising awareness of the physician suicide epidemic and galvanizing physicians, their colleagues and their loved ones to create a culture of wellbeing that prioritizes reducing burnout, safeguarding job satisfaction and viewing seeking mental health services as a sign of strength. We want you to [...]

By Jennifer Feist and Corey Feist | Sept. 9, 2021 For more than a year, our nation's health care workers have been running at full speed. They are overworked and exhausted, all while treating patients with COVID-19, some of whom have recovered from the virus and others who haven't – and may never. All this stress, death and fear understandably have taken a toll on these front-line workers and their families. During the past 16 months, our family has grieved the loss of our beloved sister and sister-in-law, Dr. Lorna Breen, an accomplished New [...]

The Power of A Awards recognize and celebrate the extraordinary contributions associations make to society The Medical Society of Virginia (MSV) has been named a 2021 Power of A Gold Award Winner for its Clinician Well-Being Program, SafeHaven™. SafeHaven™ was founded in 2020 after recognizing a greater need to provide physicians and PAs the support they need to stay well and prevent burnout. As of 2021, the SafeHaven™ protections have been extended through additional legislation to now include nurses and pharmacists; as well as medical, nursing, PA, and pharmacy students. [...]