The health system is one of 62 nationwide to earn the recognition this year

NEW YORK, NY (TIP): NYC Health + Hospitals announced on October 15, 2024 that  it has earned the bronze-level Joy in Medicine recognition from the American Medical Association (AMA) for enhancing physician well-being and reducing burnout. After peaking during the Covid pandemic, the national physician burnout rate has dipped under 50 percent for the first time in four years. This is a milestone in preventing and reducing physician burnout, but continued efforts are essential to ensure doctors receive the support they need to thrive and achieve national health goals. Today’s announcement builds on the health system’s commitment to the mental health and wellness of its frontline staff. In July, NYC Health + Hospitals was recognized as a 2024 WellBeing First Champion for its efforts to remove invasive mental health questions on physician credentialing applications. In March, the health system announced a partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to implement the Interactive Screening Program, an online self-screening tool for staff to connect to peer and clinical support before a potential crisis emerges. In addition, NYC Health + Hospitals’ Helping Healers Heal program offers emotional first aid to health care providers who are suffering from workplace stress or anxiety and may be at high risk of feeling depressed caused by the demanding circumstances of the job and unexpected patient outcomes.

These workforce wellness initiatives have been effective in enhancing staff wellbeing. In a survey of nearly 2,700 of its physicians, residents, and fellows, NYC Health + Hospitals found that clinician wellbeing had improved in 2023 compared to 2021:

• Overall stress reduced by 42%

• Compassion fatigue reduced by 61%

• Anxiety reduced by 44%

• Feelings of sadness reduced by 52%

• Symptoms of burnout that would not go away reduced by 22%

The AMA’s Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program is designed for the unique challenges faced by health systems in building organizational well-being. Embarking on the designation journey provided a road map to implement programs and policies that support well-being, while building awareness about solutions that promote joy in medicine and spur investment within the reduction of burnout.

To meet requirements of the AMA Joy in Medicine award, NYC Health + Hospitals had to:

• Measure burnout, share the results, and evidence improvement
• Establish a formalized well-being committee and track key performance indicators
• Measure and monitor electronic health record data and use key results alongside of specialty leaders to improve
• Assess teamwork and identify strategies to enhance culture
• Implement crowdsourcing processes and active listening sessions to learn about our employees’ experiences
• Move stigmatizing language surrounding mental health from licensure/credentialing applications
• Establish a peer support program to aid staff with coping through personal and professional experiences

“As the largest public municipal healthcare delivery system in the nation, we are thrilled to have achieved Bronze designation for the American Medical Association’s Joy in Medicine recognition program,” said Jeremy Segall, MA, RDT, LCAT, FPCC, System Chief Wellness Officer and Assistant Vice President, Human Experience. “Meeting all requirements this honor recognizes our system’s commitment to reducing burnout and improving the overall holistic well-being of our healthcare professionals. We united together as a system to build the culture necessary to enhance joy in medicine, reminding us all why we chose the line of work that we are in. The healthier we are as staff members the more engaged we are with our own individual purpose behind the why of who we are as healthcare professionals, which then more meaningfully aligns us with NYC Health + Hospitals’ mission, vision, and values impacting the experience of all seeking and providing services.”

“Physicians are humans caring for other human beings, strained by factors beyond their control and challenged by the enormous expectations placed on them to continuously deliver high quality, compassionate care. There is no doubt change is needed, but what needs to change is not the doctors,” said AMA President Bruce A. Scott, MD. “A national movement is gaining momentum to transform health care work systems and fix the root causes of physician burnout. Health organizations that have earned the AMA’s Joy in Medicine recognition are leading this movement with bold visions for redesigned clinical systems to foster professional well-being and support quality care.”

“The goal of the Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program is to equip health systems with evidence-informed strategies that promote physician well-being,” said Christine Sinsky, MD, AMA vice president of professional satisfaction. “Reducing burnout requires health system leaders to invest in systems-based solutions that provide resources to match the demands placed on physicians. There is so much health systems can do to improve physician well-being while also improving patient care. We designed the Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program to provide leaders with an actionable road map to solutions that will help physicians and patients thrive.”

Since its inception in 2019, the AMA Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program has recognized more than 100 organizations across the country. In 2024, a total of 62 health systems nationwide earned recognition with documented efforts to reduce system-level drivers of work-related burnout and demonstrated competencies in commitment, assessment, leadership, efficiency of practice environment, teamwork, and support. These 2024 organizations join a strong cohort of currently recognized organizations from the 2023 program.

Learn more about the AMA Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program at ama-assn.org/joyinmedicine.