This page offers tools and resources for physicians of all ages and career stages to help you find joy and meaning in your work. Below, find information on the meaning of joy in medical practice, the immediate crisis of physician burnout, tools for transforming your practice into a less stressful work environment, strategies to embrace meaning and awareness in your own life, and more.
No One Cares Alone
PeerRxMed™ is a free, peer-supported program designed to help physicians and others on the care team move toward thriving both personally and professionally. The program was designed by Family Physician Mark Greenawald, MD from Virginia. In addition to working as Professor and Vice Chair of Family Medicine and Community Medicine at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine (VTC) and the Vice Chair for Academic Affairs and Professional Development for the Carilion Clinic Department of Family and Community Medicine, he also serves as the conference Chair for the annual AAFP Physician Health and Well-Being Conference since 2018.
Professional burnout is impacting physicians and others on the healthcare team in unprecedented numbers. The increased complexity, regulation, and pace of medical practice has also led to a greater sense among physicians of feeling professionally and socially isolated from their colleagues and alone in their struggles. Indeed, the MedScape National Physician Burnout Report 2020 indicated that almost half of all physicians across generations respond to feelings of professional distress by isolating themselves from others, even as we know that professional connection is our lifeblood …
It is for that reason that PeerRxMed™ (PeerRx or PRx for short) was created, built upon the premise that “No One Cares Alone™.” PeerRx is a free, peer-to-peer program for physicians and others working in health care designed to provide support, connection, encouragement, resources, and skill-building in order to help participants advance along the Burnout to Thriving Index (Burnout —> Surviving —> Fine —> Well —> Thriving) toward optimal well-being, however you would define that state for yourself.
The foundation of the PeerRxMed™ program is PeerRx90, also known as PRx90™, which is structured to support paired clinicians through a “buddy system” and provide a platform to facilitate encouragement, accountability, and mutual support/growth. Such a system has precedent in the United States Armed Forces (“wingmen” in the Air Force, “battle buddies” in the Army, “shipmates” in the Navy), the Boy Scouts of America, the Girl Scouts of the USA, and the YMCA swimming programs. The time has come for you to Strive to Thrive and join the PeerRx Movement.
Since 2010, TheHappyMD.com has been the leader in the prevention of physician burnout for individual doctors and healthcare organizations.
Stop Physician Burnout: TheHappiest Doctors Build this Venn Diagram
In this post I will show you a shortcut to more happiness in your busy life as a physician … by teaching you how to overcome your doctor programming and build your own personal Venn Diagram of Physician Happiness.
The happiest doctors I know understand there is a Venn Diagram for career satisfaction.
Employed physicians face unique stresses in practice as they often lack autonomy and influence over business decisions. Here are four ways to protect your wellbeing.
This PowerPoint has been created to help you, our members, improve your own state of wellbeing in both your professional and personal lives. We encourage you to download and share this information with your colleagues and employers as you see fit.
The AAFP introduced Physician Health First, the first-ever comprehensive initiative devoted to improving physician wellbeing. As part of the initiative, the AAFP launched an interactive web portal with a wealth of well-being resources for members.
Burnout may be most noticeable in physicians, but it starts in medical school and residency. Here’s what we can do about it.
Regaining joy in practice is crucial, but not a simple task. Preventing burnout starts with the individual physician and the attitudes that they bring to their practice and daily life. Many physicians have found that focusing on meaning, mindfulness, and resilience skills greatly help as they seek joy in their work.
How to switch from burnout to resilience.
A perspective on how family physicians can find meaning in their work and rediscover the joy in their practice.
The AMA has developed a series of modules focusing on wellness, resiliency, and preventing burnout, as well as other useful topics.
