The MedStar Health Center for Wellbeing (MCW) was launched to further develop and promote an innovative and supportive wellbeing culture that prioritizes optimal health, professional fulfillment, and quality of life for MedStar Health associates and providers.
MedStar Health formally established the Center in November 2021 after years of successful foundational wellbeing activities that earned Joy in Medicine™ recognition from the American Medical Association (AMA). With a long history of important collaboration
in influence, business innovation, and efficiency of practice optimization, the system designated MedStar Institute for Innovation (MI2) as the Center’s organizational home, with medical affairs, nursing, and human resources serving as critical partners.
The Center’s creation demonstrates that wellbeing is and will remain a top organizational priority, and that MedStar Health is committed to incubating the Center’s potential to further serve as a national leader in innovation, research, and education in this space.
Goals
Overall, the team will work toward four main goals as the Center continues establishing itself within MedStar Health and the national wellbeing landscape:
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Ensure widespread engagement in and recognition of wellbeing programs and priorities internally
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Explore ways to “hardwire” wellbeing into our internal workplace culture (e.g., starting meetings by highlighting the stress continuum model and stress first aid strategies)
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Continue MedStar Health’s research program that develops, tests, and disseminates world-class healthcare wellbeing programs
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Help make MedStar Health the best place to work in health care
What the Center Offers
The MedStar Health Center for Wellbeing strives to make a positive impact by supporting individuals and creating a culture of wellbeing. The team wants to fundamentally transform how associates cope with the stresses of working in health care, and support those who help others do so. The Center works to overcome healthcare associates’ hesitancy to seek care for themselves by driving meaningful engagement in and expansion of wellbeing initiatives and resources.
Programs that support individuals
Local Initiatives
- Local Wellness Committees
- Physical Health Initiatives
- Wellbeing Newsletter
Support Services
- Digital Infrastructure
- Care.com
- Concierge Offerings
- Recharge Stations
Research and Program Development
- Physician Wellness Academic Consortium (PWAC)
- Graduate Medical Education (GME), Including SELECT (Scholarly Excellence in Leadership Education Curriculum and Training) Grants
- Research/Statistical Support
- Wellness Champions and Supporting Pilot Grants
Education and training that creates a culture of wellbeing
Integrated Peer Support
- Peer to Peer Groups and Training
- Care for the Caregiver Program
- You Are Not Alone Program
- Wellness Rounds
Mental Health Support
- Stress First Aid Training
- Resilience Training and Regional Resilience Coaches
- Expedited Mental Health Offerings
Wellbeing Information
- Scrub In Podcast
- Here for You Materials (pocket cards, website)
- Compilation of Leading External Resources
- Quarterly Advocate Award
Leadership
Following are the MedStar Health Center for Wellbeing leaders and the areas they oversee. They work in close collaboration with resilience coaches and therapy experts, a steering committee, wellness champions and committees, and an executive advisory committee.
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Daniel Marchalik, MDCenter Executive Director; Physician Wellbeing
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Crystal Morales, RNNursing Wellbeing
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Shane MurrHuman Resources
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Ed Tori, DOIntegrated Peer Support
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Heather Hartman-Hall, PhDMental Health Programs; GME Wellbeing
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Mihriye Mete, PhDWellbeing Research
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Maria Leber, PA-CAdvanced Practice Provider Wellbeing
Associate Resources
Wellbeing Initiatives for MedStar Health:
Podcast:
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Scrub In with Crystal Morales of MedStar Health: https://www.medstarhealth.org/scrubin
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Sounder: https://scrubinmedstar.sounder.fm/
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Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scrub-in/id1573954382
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Video:
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Being well in your workplace event (Nov. 2, 2022)
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LinkedIn Live: MedStar Health Center for Wellbeing (March 3, 2022)
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The MedStar Health Center for Wellbeing’s impact on associates (March 2, 2022)
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Introducing the MedStar Health Center for Wellbeing (Feb. 28, 2022)
Press Examples
Written by MedStar Health professionals:
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MedStar Health Newsroom, “MedStar Health Earns Nine ‘Healthiest Maryland Businesses’ Recognitions from the Maryland Department of Health (Sept. 8, 2022)
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MedStar Health Newsroom, “MedStar Health launches new Center for Wellbeing” (Feb. 28, 2022)
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MedStar Health Newsroom, “MedStar Health Recognized By American Medical Association As a Joy in Medicine™ Health System” (Oct. 7, 2021)
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Harvard Business Review, “Put Doctors at the Center of Health Care Tech” (Nov. 30, 2020)
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Harvard Business Review, “What Health Care Can Teach Other Industries About Preventing Burnout” (Oct. 26, 2020)
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Modern Healthcare, “Re-envisioning healthcare in the COVID-19 Era” (Sept. 30, 2020)
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The Lancet, “Physicians, oaths, and vampires” (Sept. 21, 2019; Note: Dr. Marchalik writes a regular column for The Lancet)
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The Washington Post, “Why are so many doctors burning out? Tons of real and electronic paperwork” (June 1, 2019)
Academic Publication Examples
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JAMA Network Open, “Analysis of Electronic Health Record Use and Clinical Productivity and Their Association With Physician Turnover” (Oct. 12, 2021; PMID: 34636911)
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The American Journal of Surgery, “Beyond burnout: Understanding the well-being gender gap in general surgery by examining professional fulfillment and control over schedule” (Sept. 2, 2021; PMID: 34517966)
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Journal of the American College of Radiology, “Burnout, Professional Fulfillment, Intention to Leave, and Sleep-Related Impairment Among Faculty Radiologists in the United States: An Epidemiologic Study” (Sept. 1, 2021; PMID: 33964230—Recognized as article of the year)
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JAMA Network Open, “Assessment of Physician Sleep and Wellness, Burnout, and Clinically Significant Medical Errors” (Dec. 7, 2020; PMID: 33284339)
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JAMA Health Forum, “Addressing Burnout Among Health Care Professionals by Focusing on Process Rather Than Metrics” (Sept. 30, 2020)
Note: More of Dr. Marchalik and team’s writing and research can be found in his physician profile here.
