ChristianaCare Chief Wellness Officer Dr. Heather Farley discussed the Center for WorkLife Wellbeing and their efforts to keep their caregivers – from the doctors and nursing staff, technicians to administrative, clerical and maintenance mentally healthy and resilient, efforts especially important during the pandemic. She explains that when caregivers feel supported and fulfilled in their work, the quality of both the patient and the caregiver experience improves. She described ‘burn out’ clinically, including cynicism and loss of purpose, and notes that repetition and bureaucratic busy-work can lead to it. Dr Farley discussed their award-winning program and how they trained peer counselors to look for signs of it and to be proactive in discussing it to counter self-consciousness or stigma. For more information go to the For Health Professionals tab at christianacare.org.
