Ninth International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society

Abstract

What happens when you let teams take wellness into their own hands? At Stanford Health Care we wanted to find out. Recent studies indicate astoundingly high levels of burnout within the American workforce and particularly within healthcare. A Stanford study found that physicians with burnout have more than twice the odds of self-reported medical errors. We know from engagement surveys that burnout is not limited to physicians; all team members can be impacted. To fully understand how we can care for those that are constantly providing care to others, it is necessary to start at the grassroots level. Equip teams with tools to create positive change and provide support for a sustainable, healthy and safe environment. Blending findings from behavioral economics, change management theory, organizational psychology and happiness research, in collaboration with Human Resources and Occupational Health, Stanford Health Care developed team-based interventions that gave employees autonomy and control over when, where and how wellness-infused interventions were offered. This multidisciplinary approach allows teams to address workplace issues as they see fit, boosting psychological safety and enhancing the quality of medical care. Through an interactive design-thinking session featuring videos, experiential self- and team-care practices, and small group problem solving with case studies, participants will learn how to activate managers and team members to improve the culture of health. Participants will walk away with an individualized action plan to implement interventions that proactively tackle the drivers of burnout, enhance organizational leadership and boost team member engagement within their own organizations.