Worcester, Mass – UMass Memorial Health, the largest not-for-profit health care system in Central Massachusetts, has been recognized by the American Medical Association’s 2022 Joy in Medicine™ Health System Recognition Program for its Clinician Experience Office (CXO). Awarded at the Bronze level, UMass Memorial Health is among the 28 organizations across the nation that have been recognized this year for prioritizing and investing in physician well-being.

The 2022 Joy in Medicine™ Health System Recognition Program recognizes organizations throughout the country that are committed to addressing burnout among physicians by supporting well-being. As one of the organizations recognized, UMass Memorial Health’s CXO was awarded for its support, leadership, assessment, commitment, and efficiency of physician practice environment.

The concept for this office was developed four years ago through the work of the Physician Engagement Committee, which included leaders from UMass Memorial Medical Group, UMass Memorial Medical Center and UMass Chan Medical School. This group, which was chaired by Shlomit Schaal, MD, PhD, MHCM, President, UMass Memorial Medical Group, and Julia Johnson, MD, former chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, worked collaboratively with more than 100 frontline physicians to create the CXO.

Since its launch, the CXO has created programs and initiatives to improve the wellness and well-being of providers by connecting them with resources and programs designed to empower, deliver support while preventing burnout. The “Get Rid of Stupid Stuff” (GROSS) program is designed to improve EPIC, the electronic medical record system, and enhance workflow by allowing providers to send in pain-points and ideas. Separately, the Peer Support Network program, launched by the CXO, connects clinicians, virtually or in-person, with peers from UMass Memorial Health and UMass Chan Medical School who are trained to provide confidential assistance during difficult times.

“The quality of care that patients receive is a reflection of the well-being of physicians and the level of support that a health system provides to physicians,” said Clinician Experience Officer Steven Bird, MD, FACEP, FACMT; professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. “The past few years have shown us the urgency and importance of combating physician burnout and have emphasized the need to prioritize wellness and proactively deliver support to providers and staff. As we continue to drive initiatives to improve and support the well-being of our providers, we are honored to be recognized this year by the American Medical Association as part of their prestigious Joy in Medicine™ Health System Recognition Program.”

“The inclusion of UMass Memorial Health in the American Medical Association’s 2022 Joy in Medicine™ Health System Recognition Program is an honor and attests to our dedication to addressing physician burnout – a topic which significantly impacts the mental and physical health of providers,” said Dr. Schaal. “Providers are ultimately at the heart and center of operations powering patient care. To achieve the caliber of care that we strive to deliver here at UMass Memorial Health, we are committed to providing the programs and resources needed to ensure that the wellness and satisfaction of our providers is a top priority.”

For more information on UMass Memorial Health’s Clinician Experience Office, please visit the Clinician Experience Office (CXO) page. 

*****

About UMass Memorial Health:

UMass Memorial Health is the largest not-for-profit health care system in Central Massachusetts, with more than 17,000 employees and 2,100 physicians, many of whom are members of UMass Memorial Medical Group and Harrington Physician Services. We are the clinical partner of the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Our comprehensive system includes UMass Memorial Medical Center, UMass Memorial Health – Harrington, UMass Memorial Health – HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital, UMass Memorial Health – Marlborough Hospital, and UMass Memorial Health – Community Healthlink. Visit www.ummhealth.org.

About American Medical Association Joy in Medicine™ Health System Recognition Program:

Helping health systems and clinical practices succeed in their practice transformation journey is critical to the AMA. That’s why we offer evidence-based, field-tested solutions to guide physicians and care teams each step of the way. Increasing efficiencies, improving patient care and enhancing professional satisfaction—these are what increase Joy in Medicine™ and make the journey worthwhile.