Lessons from palliative care help leaders address team member suffering to support their wellbeing – Jennifer K. Clark, MD

In this episode of Caring Greatly, Jennifer talks about how the core concepts of training from med-peds (internal medicine plus pediatrics) hospice and palliative care have informed her systems thinking and transformation approaches. She shares how palliative care challenges the notion in medicine that death is a failure and what can happen for team member wellbeing when leaders upend that assumption. Jennifer also delves into the thought framework of her new book, Suffer, which looks at the core needs of human beings and the value of suffering. Much of the framework is through the lens of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. While suffering is what happens when core needs go unmet, understanding human suffering helps illuminate the fundamental nature of needs and how they play out for patients and for care team members. Finally, Jennifer helps leaders connect the dots between understanding suffering and the opportunities for empathy, innovation and thriving when team members’ needs for safety, wellbeing and belonging are met.

Psychological first aid as a remedy to reduce mental health stigma – Christina Watlington, PhD and Christine McGuire, MSc

In this episode of Caring Greatly, Christina and Christine share the details of the Psychological First Aid (PFA) training they created and launched at ChristianaCare. Their training, which has reached more than 50% of leaders at ChristianaCare, uses an easy-to-remember three-step model of recognizing signs of stress or distress, supporting immediate recovery and referring team members to additional resources provided by ChristianaCare to support team member safety and wellbeing. As a result, the number of referrals to the organization’s Care for the Caregiver program has doubled. Essentially, PFA serves as a culture change mechanism to help reduce the stigma around mental health care. By giving leaders and bedside team members a shared vocabulary around safety and wellbeing, help-seeking behavior is being normalized. It’s also opening new horizons and expanding resources to support more elements of trauma recovery and trauma-informed care and leadership.

Culture and process change to support team member safety and wellbeing – Linda McHugh, MT, MBA, and Tria Deibert, MA

In this episode of Caring Greatly, Linda and Tria talk about how culture affects team member safety and wellbeing. They share specifics about recent process and technology changes that have helped to build trust, connection and belonging between leaders and team members across clinical, operational and administrative teams. Linda and Tria talk about the data they use to direct cultural transformation, and why it’s important to ensure that culture recognizes and values team members as whole human beings in addition to the job skills and abilities they offer the organization. Finally, they describe how an intentional culture helps improve patient-family experience and outcomes.

Making team member wellbeing a top strategic priority – Bryan Batson, MD

In this episode of Caring Greatly, Dr. Batson shares the changes he and his leadership team have made at Hattiesburg Clinic to support team member wellbeing. He talks about a physician onboarding process that supports new physicians through their first three years at the organization, the time when they are building leadership credibility, teamwork and habits that will support them throughout their tenure at the organization. Dr. Batson describes how, emerging from the pandemic, team members asked for more chances to connect socially and how the leaders at Hattiesburg Clinic ensure wellbeing efforts extend to all care team members. He also shares how this focus on human connection has resulted in exceptional outcomes for patients and team members alike.

Supporting diversity, equity and inclusion at the systemic, institutional and individual levels – Daniele Ölveczky, MD

In this episode of Caring Greatly, Daniele talks about the small and large actions that create diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging at the structural, institutional and individual levels. She shares the ways that privilege, in any form, can be leveraged to undo structural inequities and to create safety for individuals. She outlines the ways that BIDMC reaches out to the surrounding community to create pathways toward health equity as well as representation in healthcare careers. Daniele shares that equity and inclusion are rooted in healthcare data, and she closes with all of the ways to find hope and rise above political divisions toward inclusive service.

Security personnel as an extension of the care team – Todd Miller

In this episode of Caring Greatly, Todd talks about the increase in workplace violence in healthcare settings and how he and his team of security professionals respond to the rising threat. He describes how the role and responsibilities of security professionals have evolved as our understanding of trauma-informed care has grown. Todd talks about de-escalation approaches that try to minimize physical intervention, and how the profile of strong candidates for the security role has evolved to include the ability to connect easily with patients and families. And he discusses the need for security professionals to have their own resources and post-incident debriefs to support their wellbeing.

Diversifying the field of anesthesiology  – Wallena Gould

In this episode of Caring Greatly, Dr. Gould shares how and why she created the Diversity in Nurse Anesthesia Mentorship Program, a program designed to support nurses from under-represented groups as they learn about and pursue advanced anesthesia education and careers. She describes how the program aims to create smoother pathways to advanced credentialing to students and mid-career nurses who may not have exposure or experience with these types of career opportunities. Dr. Gould explains the importance of mentorship and the value of having diverse representation in all aspects of nursing care.

Equipping frontline leaders to support team member wellbeing – L. Casey Chosewood, MD

In this episode of Caring Greatly, Dr. Chosewood talks about the critical role frontline leaders play in supporting team member safety and wellbeing. He delves into how frontline leaders play a role in the three P’s of total worker health – policies, programs and practices – both influencing their creation and overseeing their implementation. He talks about how frontline leaders are essential to minimizing work stress and supporting team members because they control schedules, the pace of work and how much control and flexibility team members have in daily work. Dr. Chosewood also shares the critical role of frontline leaders in supporting inclusion, belonging and trust, essential factors in workplace safety and wellbeing. He also shares measurements that frontline and senior leaders can use to gauge workplace wellbeing.

How science and stories support wellbeing transformation – Nadia Charguia, MD

In this episode of Caring Greatly, Dr. Charguia shares how wellbeing efforts at UNC shifted from a focus on individual practices to support clinicians to a systems-based approach that works toward practice transformation. She explains how and why UNC Healthcare employs human-factors engineers to support science-based improvements in clinical workflows and resourcing. Dr. Charguia also describes how storytelling around wellbeing challenges can support the science of change.

Episode 82 – A neurosurgeon’s view of compassion in action – Jody Stern, MD

In this episode of Caring Greatly, Dr. Stern shares the story of how his personal losses have led him to a new view of medicine and how to create safe, supportive environments for clinicians and patients alike. He delves into his work to advance compassion in action at University of Michigan Medicine, which involves communication training for neurosurgery residents, integration of palliative care into neurosurgery practice, and surgical ergonomics for surgeon wellbeing. Dr. Stern believes that by improving practice environments, we can increase the longevity, wellbeing and joy in practice for all healthcare team members.

The Impact Wellbeing™ guide – John Howard, MD, and Stefanie Simmons, MD

In this episode of Caring Greatly, Drs. Howard and Simmons share insights about the creation of the Impact Wellbeing Guide. The Guide, which is free, provides concrete, evidence-informed steps leaders can take to carry out the broader recommendations from the U.S. Surgeon General and National Academy of Medicine. They discuss insights from the process of creating and testing the Guide across multiple hospitals in the CommonSpirit Health System. And they offer guidance to leaders who are just getting started on their professional wellbeing journey.

The power of connected leadership – Jennifer Clark, MD

In this episode of Caring Greatly, Dr. Clark shares insights from research she recently published on leadership loneliness in partnership with the Institute for Healthcare Excellence. She delves into the ways that leader loneliness creates a self-reinforcing cycle in which isolation leads to self-devaluation, attempts to compensate through more work and less sleep, which then further compromises connection. As a result, says Dr. Clark, they become less effective and resilient as leaders, decreasing the efficacy of their teams and lowering organizational resilience. Like burnout in clinicians, leader loneliness results from structural elements that can be addressed through deliberate connection and positive organizational design.

Supporting nurse wellbeing across the career continuum – Robin Geiger

In this episode of Caring Greatly, Dr. Geiger talks about the need to support nurses holistically through an approach that Ingenovis calls ACT, which stands for Advocacy, Career, and Tools. Based on interdisciplinary research, Dr. Geiger and her team built the approach as a means of combatting burnout and building resilience at both the structural and individual levels. By advocating for what nurses and other clinicians need at the policy level, supporting their career advancement, and providing tools and resources that teach individual wellbeing, Dr. Geiger hopes to bolster the nursing field and keep more nurses working in roles that offer professional fulfillment and personal wellbeing.

Eliminate intrusive questions in licensure and credentialing to reduce mental health stigma – Corey Feist

In this episode, Mr. Feist and I talk about the factors that led to Dr. Breen’s death by suicide in 2020. Chief among these was a fear of losing her medical license if it became known that she had needed mental health support. This legacy is what has led the Foundation to launch a campaign to eliminate intrusive mental health questions from healthcare professional licensure and credentialing processes, a change that will help reduce the stigma that currently exists in healthcare around seeking mental health support. This change is beginning to happen at healthcare institutions and in state licensing boards across the country and represents a simple yet meaningful change to creating safer healthcare workplaces for team members and patients alike.

Downregulating the nervous system as a pathway to wellbeing – Steve Forti

In this episode of Caring Greatly, Mr. Forti shares the science of autonomic downregulation as a focal point for individual wellbeing. While he is an advocate for system change, he believes that those in the healing profession also have a moral obligation to care for their personal wellbeing, given the critical nature of the work they do and the proven links between wellbeing and patient care outcomes. At Hospital for Special Surgery, Mr. Forti created a program that teaches the science behind autonomic downregulation as well as simple practices such as sleep, breathwork, alcohol-abstention, gratitude and nutrition that support heart-rate variability (HRV), a key measure of wellbeing. To date, more than 700 clinicians have completed the training.

Evidence-based wellbeing practices – J. Bryan Sexton

In this episode of Caring Greatly, Dr. Sexton talks about his team’s focus on providing accessible, evidence-based wellbeing practice to healthcare team members across the country. His five-part training covers gratitude, work-life balance, self-compassion, awe and wonder, and group-level wellbeing. The approach mixes didactic learning on the science behind wellbeing practices as well as time to put the concepts into practice. Dr. Sexton believes that evidence-based, individually-focused wellbeing practices are an essential complement to broader efforts to transform system factors that cause burnout and distress.

Minimizing cognitive overload to support team member safety and wellbeing – Elizabeth Harry, MD

In this episode, Dr. Harry talks about the principles of cognitive load theory and how they apply to the practice of medicine. She discusses individual, team, and system approaches to managing and minimizing cognitive load by removing extraneous load from system processes and technologies. Dr. Harry also talks about the need to bring human factors engineering science and principles into healthcare so that leaders can work with the cognitive capacities of team members, and free up their finite resources for the most human-centered tasks and relationships. Finally, Dr. Harry shares insights into how leaders at every level can contribute to team member and patient safety by prioritizing an understanding of cognitive capacity and designing accordingly.

The transparency conundrum – Danielle Ofri, MD

In this episode, Dr. Ofri talks about an article she published in the New Yorker titled, “The Curious Side Effects of Medical Transparency.” She delves into how the act of exposing medical notes to patients necessarily changes their purpose and their content, and how that, in turn, changes the thinking processes of clinicians. She also talks about how art and expression are both integral to and separate from the art and science of medicine. Finally, Dr. Ofri offers advice to rising clinicians about how to separate their responsibilities from their identities to support sustainable practice.

The mind-heart connection – Jonathan Fisher, MD

In this episode, Dr. Fisher talks about how he came to medicine and his experience of burnout, depression, and disillusionment in his early career. That experience led him to take a deep dive into ancient wisdom traditions, but with a scientist’s mind. He shares the seven traits of the heart (steadiness, wisdom, openness, wholeness, courage, lightness and warmth) and how bringing these into healthcare practice creates presence, connection, and, ultimately, healing.

Creating an ethical practice environment – Cynda Rushton

In this episode, Dr. Rushton talks about the concept of values discordance, and what happens when a person perceives their personal or professional values to be out of alignment with their organization’s values. She shares how values play out in an organization – through leadership, decision making, and budgeting. She also digs into the link between values and moral injury, and how ethics considerations need to be a central component of leaders’ wellbeing and leadership strategies. Additionally, Dr. Rushton lays out a structure for how leaders can safeguard ethics and values through leadership and safety infrastructure to support expectations and accountability, practice integration, continuous improvement, and competency building.

Leading for wellbeing and resilience – Paul DeChant, MD

In this episode, Dr. DeChant talks about what’s different about workplace transformation in the trailing edge of the COVID-19 pandemic. He looks at the need to rethink workload as an antidote to burnout, digging deeper than the concept of exhaustion into the causes of cynicism and inefficacy. This means delving into concepts such as respect, values, and community connection. Dr. DeChant talks about management concepts such as LEAN and what it takes to apply these in ways that solve for burnout rather than contributing to it. He also touches on leadership burnout and how leaders can care for their own resilience and wellbeing and then lead others on a path toward joy and wellbeing at work.

Fundamental changes to work structure as an antidote to burnout – Lisa Bukovac, DO

In this episode, Dr. Bukovac talks about the factors in obstetrics that lead to physician burnout - especially the way that clinical practice is structured in a way that creates conflicts of time, attention and clinical expertise. Dr. Bukovac advocates for a fundamental restructuring of obstetrics training and operations that encourages physicians to specialize in office care, hospital care, or surgery. She believes this will not only lead to better clinical outcomes, but also a more manageable and sustainable practice model for clinicians. Dr. Bukovac shares her own journey from burnout to a practice that sustains her passion for medicine and allows her to balance work with her other life pursuits. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Vocera, now part of Stryker.

Managing the polarity of changing the system versus personal resilience – Cynda Rushton

In this episode, Dr. Rushton talks about the current divide between advocates of system change to improve clinician wellbeing, and those promoting personal resilience and training. We look at the challenges of managing polarities as leaders embrace a both/and approach to team member wellbeing. Dr. Rushton shares the specifics of a personal resilience training that equips nurses at John Hopkins to stand firm in their ethics and values, and to act as advocates for system improvement without sacrificing their personal wellbeing. Finally, Dr. Rushton paints a picture of leadership in which clinicians gain empowerment to manage their own wellbeing while acting as advocates for both their patients and their profession.

Linking leader and team member wellbeing – Rosanne Raso

In this episode, Dr. Raso talks about her latest research looking at authentic leadership, healthy work environment, team-member wellbeing, and nurse retention. In it, she uncovered a remarkable resilience of nurse leaders to continue leading with authenticity and humanity, even as the work environment for nurses diminished. She discusses the need to support nurse leaders with the same process and practice improvement, as well as providing wellbeing support to frontline nurses. Dr. Raso lays out a hope-filled vision for a future in which the structures of support for nurses and nurse leaders emerge from the challenges of the pandemic stronger and more human-centered than ever. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Vocera, now part of Stryker.

Trust as the foundation for safety and wellbeing – Mike Woodruff, MD

In this episode, Dr. Woodruff talks about the central role that trust plays in supporting team member safety and well-being. While trust is not an unusual concept in leadership, Dr. Woodruff takes an expansive view, connecting it to every process that an individual interacts with within a system. He believes that any process that isn't explicitly designed to build trust - by showing respect and integrity - has the potential to erode trust, and that those small, daily interactions carry more collective weight than a single, positive, in-person encounter. He and his team use two questions to filter the trust factor on organizational processes: Does it support the mission? And, is it kind? The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Vocera, now part of Stryker.

2022 healthcare workforce rescue package – Heather Farley, MD, and Tina Shah, MD

Drs. Farley and Shah spearheaded a collaboration with leaders from the AMA, AHA, CEO Coalition, Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation, IHI, and National Academy of Medicine (NAM) to create the 2022 Healthcare Workforce Rescue Package. The package was devised to help leaders zero in on the most impactful team member well-being efforts to undertake at the current stage of the pandemic. In this episode, we delve into each of the five practices outlined in the Rescue Package and look ahead to how these create a foundation for a transformed culture of well-being for all healthcare team members.

Leading the evolving healthcare workforce – Rose O. Sherman

In this episode, Dr. Sherman discusses the transformative changes that are happening in the healthcare workforce, led by three critical trends: COVID-related turnover and travel; mental health challenges, and PTSD, and the shifting demographics of the workplace. She also talks about how these trends are causing dramatic shifts in the structure of healthcare work and challenging leaders to find the flexibility and creativity to rethink how healthcare is delivered. Finally, Dr. Sherman looks ahead to a future in which team member wellbeing is the center of a vibrant healthcare workforce.

Evidence-based care transformation for clinical resilience – Chris DeRienzo, MD

In this episode, Dr. DeRienzo discusses his new orientation to the “why” behind care transformation. Like most quality improvement leaders, his focus has long been on the triple aim of improved care quality, reduced cost, and improved experience. But the work Dr. DeRienzo is focused on now is creating energy and opportunity for a greater focus on health equity, necessary variability, and humanity. Care transformation, then, becomes less about productivity and standardization as a primary aim, and more about allowing clinicians to practice at the top of their humanity and their license in a way that is fulfilling and meaningful – which is also very likely to boost productivity and practice resilience over the long run.

The evidence for team member safety and wellbeing – Kedar Mate, MD

In this episode, Dr. Mate talks about research IHI recently completed into a broadened definition of team member safety and wellbeing put forth by the CEO Coalition, a group of US-based healthcare CEOs who see team member safety and wellbeing as an essential component of healthcare efficacy and sustainability. The CEO Coalition’s Heart of Safety Declaration of Principles expands the definition of safety to include protecting psychological and emotional wellbeing, promoting health justice by declaring equity and anti-racism core components of safety, and ensuring physical safety, which includes a zero-harm program to eliminate workplace violence, both physical and verbal. Dr. Mate shares what he and his team learned through the research process and how improvement science is critical to advancing safety and wellbeing. He also shares a long-term vision for healthcare in which the traditional locations and relationships of care expand, requiring a renewed focus on adaptive leadership competencies.

Tapping into the wisdom and purpose of retired physicians – Mike Rizzo, MD

In this episode, Dr. Rizzo talks about the impetus behind creating the Encore Physicians Program, and the benefit it brings to retired physicians, community health centers, and the patients they serve. He looks at the synergy and learning opportunities provided by linking both primary care and specialty physicians to the patients who seek care at community health centers, as well as the role of an intermediary such as Encore Physicians in creating connections between clinics and retired physicians. Finally, Dr. Rizzo shares his perspective on things to consider for leaders looking to set up similar programs in other parts of the country.

The power of connection to drive wellbeing – Kathryn Cziraky, MD

In this episode, Dr. Cziraky talks about her personal and practice transformation through a shift from transactional to relationship-based care, both with her team members and her patients. She also talks about how a drive toward efficiency had left her feeling depleted and disconnected from her work. In early 2020, Dr. Cziraky was introduced to the work of the Institute for Healthcare Excellence through the National Taskforce for Humanity in Healthcare, which helped her embrace positive emotions and a more relational model of work and care, which complemented and completed her drive for sustainable and effective care practice. Dr. Cziraky shares the impact of this transition on her work, her life, and her team’s ability to weather the challenges of COVID-19.

Supporting nurses through the trauma of COVID-19 – Diane Solomon

In this episode, Dr. Solomon and I discuss the impact of poor practice design on the mental health and well-being of nurses. We delve into the specific trauma of the pandemic, and the need for system-level support and changes to overcome the “tyranny of individual responsibility” that is too often attached to mental well-being. We look at the need to include nurses in system decision processes and for leaders to listen with an open mind to nurses’ demands for system change – including the need to mark loss and make space for grieving. Finally, Dr. Solomon paints a future vision in which nurses are treated as full partners in a system that prioritizes prevention and well-being for patients and team members alike.

Improving quality of life for cancer survivors – Syril Pettit

In this episode, Dr. Pettit and I talk about how advances in cancer treatment have increased survivorship, but also resulted in patients living long enough to experience the long-term side effects of both primary and adjuvant therapies. Often these impact survivors’ physical, emotional, and even financial and social well-being. Dr. Pettit and her team conduct and support research and innovation that bridge the interests and inputs of patients, life sciences firms, academic medicine, clinicians, and public health toward a future of survivorship that supports all aspects of patients’ health, well-being, and thriving.

Streamlining EHR work to improve clinician wellbeing – Annie Ideker, MD

In this episode, Dr. Ideker and I dig deep into her team’s work on EHR optimization to ensure that the EHR works for clinicians and not the other way around. In 2020, after rapidly standing up telehealth infrastructure in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Ideker and her team identified four key areas of focus for EHR improvement: orders redesign, documentation, best practice and medication alerts, and Epic proficiency. In each of these areas, she and her team designed solutions using a data-driven approach, in partnership with clinicians, and always with the aim of making the technology effective, efficient, and even delightful.

Compassion as a pathway to wellbeing – Yotam Heineberg

In this episode, Dr. Heineberg and I look at how the default tendencies of the brain can undermine compassion and resilience, especially in times of extraordinary stress such as the COVID-19 pandemic. We delve into the ways that technology can help extend access to mental health resources, while reinforcing social connections that support well-being. Finally, Dr. Heineberg outlines the importance of integrating well-being practices into collective daily work so that they help change culture.

Integrating wellbeing into daily work – Jeremy Segall

In this episode, Mr. Segall and I talk about the interconnectedness of wellness and process improvement, particularly at this time when team members have experienced such intense stress and trauma and when staffing shortages are rampant. We delve into the need to integrate well-being into the daily work and operations of the health system so that team members have a chance to debrief and begin healing from stressful events without needing to carve out additional time. Finally, Mr. Segall lays out a vision for the future that rethinks the role of wellness and resilience as a core leadership responsibility.

Nurse wellbeing hinges on improving the work – Rhonda Collins

In this episode, Dr. Collins and I talk about how responses to the COVID-19 crisis put stress on nurses in a way that will have long-term implications for individuals and the profession. We delve into the challenges that arise when seasoned professionals must shift from situations in which they can draw on ingrained expertise to ones in which they are relatively inexperienced – in other words, moving from novice to expert and back. We look at the ways nurse leaders can apply technologies and process improvements to minimize the cognitive burden on nurses, allowing them to limit stress and achieve professional well-being. Finally, Dr. Collins outlines a new study she is launching that uses the NASA Task Load Index to gauge the burden of clinical communication on nurses in high-stress environments with the aim of driving improvements across the industry.

Solving the unsolvable in healthcare – Megan Ranney, MD

In this episode, Dr. Ranney and I talk about what it takes to tackle seemingly intractable problems in healthcare. We talk about the art of building grass-roots coalitions, and the role of leadership in creating environments in which innovation can prosper. We close with a look at the lessons from the pandemic that Dr. Ranney hopes we will carry forward into a post-pandemic world.

Lessons from family experience during the pandemic – Janet Smith-Hill

In this episode, Ms. Smith-Hill and I discuss the challenges of providing support to loved ones receiving care during the pandemic. We talk about the importance of strong communication, and the emotional impact of feeling disconnected. Finally, we look ahead to how family support will evolve as the pandemic subsides.

The power of support: #MedGradWishList – Farrah-Amoy Fullerton, MD

In this episode, Dr. Fullerton and I discuss her experience as a woman of color and foreign-born student as she has pursued her medical education. We examine issues of structural racism she has encountered and look at the importance of speaking up. Finally, we delve into the origins of #MedGradWishList and the vulnerability – and power – of asking for help.

Caring conversations at end of life and always – Kelly Grosklags and Bill Maples, MD

In this episode of the Caring Greatly™ Podcast, Ms. Grosklags and Dr. Maples share insights into how to have difficult conversations with patients, and why these skills of compassion, presence, listening, and partnering with patients are essential to driving positive outcomes for clinicians and patients alike at all points of the care journey. We look at the ways leaders are using Ms. Grosklags's film to teach team members critical communication and connection skills, and how these skills are reinforced and made part of the cultural fabric by systemic training approaches like that led by Dr. Maples at the IHE. Finally, we examine why leaders should embrace these approaches now, as team members grapple with the challenges and fallout of the pandemic.

Building belonging: The value of diversity, inclusion and health equity – Duane Elliott Reynolds

In this episode, Mr. Reynolds and I discuss the ways that an internal culture of belonging helps to promote equitable health outcomes. We look at ways that leaders can help create structures of accountability for health equity and belonging, and at the role of technology in helping to proactively identify opportunities to improve equity and belonging both inside and outside the organization. We close with thoughts on how both formal and informal leaders can build a culture in which team members and patients alike can thrive.

COVID-19 and humanity in the emergency department – Justin Bright, MD

In this episode, Dr. Bright and I talk about the emotional journey that frontline care team members have experienced as they went from fear and uncertainty to reckoning with injustice, through a brief respite in the summer to a rising national caseload through the fall and the holidays. We look at the ways that team members have supported one another individually and across organizations, and we look ahead to a future built on safety and trust that cares for team members and patients alike as whole humans.

The burden and joy of caregiving during the pandemic – Alex Drane

In this episode, Ms. Drane and I talk about the impact caregiving has on caregivers’ well-being. We look at the challenges and joys of caregiving and the kinds of support that is often available but unknown. We examine how COVID-19 has changed the role and visibility of caregiving, and we look ahead to future transformations that start with empathy.

Promoting team member safety and connection – Margaret Dimond

In this episode, Dr. Dimond and I talk about the challenges of ensuring team member safety both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We discuss the critical role of communication in providing a lifeline to security resources and in connecting care team members across disciplines and locations, which is equally critical – especially when infection control protocols prevent easy mobility. We look ahead to the broader implications for team member safety and well-being in the aftermath of COVID-19.

What “experience” means in COVID-19 times – Jill Slominski, MD

In this episode, Dr. Slominski and I talk about how her focus on clinical experience has shifted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We delve into the concept of Code Lavender, a program for emotional support that Presbyterian had implemented prior to the pandemic, and how it has evolved to meet the changing needs of the care team. And we look ahead to a future in which humanity is at the center of healthcare decision making.

Team member wellbeing in the era of COVID-19 – Thomas E. Jenike, MD

In this episode, Dr. Jenike and I talk about how his work as a chief well-being officer has evolved, and how the COVID-19 pandemic is putting increased pressure on the well-being and mental health of team members. Dr. Jenike outlines how Novant Health is supporting team members, and why continued support is essential for the functioning of the health system.

The value of human-centered design in healthcare – Nick Dawson

In this episode, Mr. Dawson and I talk about the value of human-centered design and why it is necessary for constructive and cost-effective healthcare innovation. We look at some of the barriers and imperatives for designing solutions that meet the health needs of patients and families while also creating supportive, human-centered work environments for healthcare team members. Finally, Mr. Dawson shares his vision for a more health-centered future that moves beyond the traditional walls of healthcare institutions.

Unleashing innovation with a focus on humanity – Thomas Howell, MD

In this episode, Dr. Howell and I talk about how he and his fellow clinicians shifted rapidly to virtual care when COVID-19 struck. We look at the importance of a whole-team based approach during any transition, as well as the way that Dr. Howell and others are re-examining care processes in the wake of the COVID-19 disruption. Finally, we look at the role of culture and mission in driving meaningful, sustainable innovation.

Physician’s perspective on expanded virtual care – Aram Alexanian, MD

In this episode, Dr. Alexanian and I talk about the rapid adoption of virtual care during the COVID-19 pandemic from the providers’ perspective. We look at the challenges to adopting new technologies and adapting to the circumstances of the pandemic. And we look at how support from fellow physicians paves the way to a practice approach that supports professional fulfillment.

Diversity and equity as part of mainstream quality – Lou Hart, MD

In this episode, Dr. Hart and I discuss his approach to integrating equity into core quality and safety work. We examine why that integration is so important and delve into some of the specific approaches he and the organization are following to make that a reality. Dr. Hart outlines a newly revamped root cause analysis process that adds equity as an explicit focus.

Changing the nexus of care – Patrick Kneeland, MD

In this episode, Dr. Kneeland and I look at the impact of COVID-19 on home care services. There’s been enormous focus on telehealth as a response to the pandemic, but providing acute care in the home has also been a critical lifeline for patients with both urgent and chronic care needs. In addition to the care model, we delve into the professional implications for well-being and satisfaction that comes with connecting with patients on their home turf.

Creating trust through communication during COVID-19 – Anne Diamond, JD

In this episode of the Caring Greatly™ Podcast, Ms. Diamond and I talk about the impact of COVID-19 on the Bridgeport (Conn.) community. Bridgeport is a racially and ethnically diverse community with a poverty rate double that of the Connecticut average. Despite this, Bridgeport Hospital had lower than expected COVID mortality among its black and Latinx patients. We delve into the importance of communication, community trust, and support for team members to a trend-bucking COVID-19 response.

How racism shapes trust in healthcare – Jeri Hill, PhD

In this episode of the Caring Greatly™ Podcast, Dr. Hill and I delve into the history of systemic racism in society and medicine, and how that leads to distrust today. Dr. Hill shares both historical examples as well as more recent instances where racism and inequity have led to health disparities, including those witnessed in the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Hill advocates for inclusion and partnership, as well as recognition of the current and historical factors that lead to distrust as a path toward inclusion and equity.

The inside out perspective on COVID-19 – Bryan Mills

In this episode of the Caring Greatly™ Podcast, Mr. Mills shares the challenges of leading a health system through the pandemic. We talk about the perspective he gained by having COVID-19, and the critical importance of communication as the financial, process, and health uncertainties of the COVID-19 response unfold.

The power of peer support for care team members during COVID-19 – Jo Shapiro, MD

In this episode of the Caring Greatly™ podcast, Dr. Shapiro shares insights into the value of peer support in a profession in which mental health support is still stigmatized. We delve into how peer support is critical to responding to the mental wellbeing needs of clinicians during COVID-19, in addition to providing critical infrastructure to help support rising awareness and the continued impact of racial inequity in healthcare.

COVID-19 and racial equity in healthcare – James Burroughs, JD

In this episode of the Caring Greatly™ podcast, Mr. Burroughs and I look at the longstanding issue of racial inequity in healthcare. We delve into the intersection of racism and social determinants of health, and the ways that they do and don’t overlap. Mr. Burroughs shares insights into why COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted communities of color, and how leaders can take aim at the root causes of racial injustice.

Physician suicide and the impact of COVID-19 – Pamela Wible, MD

In this episode, Dr. Wible and I talk about the systemic factors that lead to physician suicide, particularly those pertaining to medical education. We look at the additional emotional and moral distress caused by COVID-19 and racial and social inequities. We end by discussing the kinds of transparency, reform, and leadership required to create a more humane medical system.

Impact of COVID-19 on LGBTQ+ children and young adults – Angela Goepferd, MD

In this episode of the Caring Greatly™ Podcast, Dr. Goepferd and I discuss the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on LGBTQ+ children and young adults. We delve into the challenges of Pride month under quarantine, and the importance of affirming and celebrating the unique identities of LGBTQ+ kids. We also look at issues of intersectionality, and the importance of listening to all members of the community across lines of gender, sex, race, sexuality, language, and other identities.

Humanity on the frontlines of COVID-19 – Read Pierce, MD

In this episode, Dr. Pierce and I talk about the imperative clinicians feel to bring humanity to care during COVID-19, despite challenges to connection created by PPE, caseload, and restrictions on time spent with patients designed to limit infection risk. We also look at the path forward toward recovery and thriving, which includes individual support, team- and leadership-based efforts to maximize positive emotions, and deeper changes in healthcare systems.

Envisioning a path forward from COVID-19 – Amy Compton-Phillips, MD

As the West Coast COVID-19 caseload eased, Dr. Compton-Phillips led a virtual offsite for more than 200 leaders from across the Providence system. Team members envisioned a path forward from the immediate response phase through recovery and into a future where Providence can grow toward its vision of health for a better world. On this episode, Dr. Compton-Phillips and I discuss the system’s future vision, strategies for lessening the health disparities that have been so starkly outlined by the COVID-19 crisis, and the importance of a leadership model based in listening to team members.

Responding to COVID-19 with Humanity – Rick Evans

The Future of Telehealth in the COVID-19 Response and Beyond – Joe Kvedar, MD

Joe Kvedar, MD, is professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School, senior advisor for virtual care at Partners HealthCare, and editor in chief at NPJ Digital Medicine. Dr. Kvedar has been a long-time scholar of and advocate for the integration of telehealth into mainstream medical practice. In this episode, Dr. Kvedar discusses the steps needed to allow for the dramatic expansion of telehealth and virtual care that have accompanied the COVID-19 response. He also looks ahead to the way that telehealth is likely to evolve in the immediate aftermath of the virus and ahead as we re-imagine the future of healthcare.

Caring for Patients and Care Teams in the Heart of the COVID-19 Crisis – Nancy Corcoran-Davidoff

In this episode of the Caring Greatly™️ podcast, Nancy and I discuss the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the team members and communities across New Jersey. We explore how members of the patient experience team redeployed to serve the health, safety, spiritual, and connection needs of patients and families experiencing hospitalization during the crisis. We look at the long-term impacts on the mental health and well-being of team members, and how HMH is working to support them with clinician-led well-being outreach. And we look at the ways that care will be forever transformed by the lessons uncovered during the crisis.

Health Disparities and COVID-19 – Lisa Fitzpatrick, MD, MPH, MPA

In this episode of the Caring Greatly™️ podcast, Dr. Fitzpatrick and I discuss the reasons that health disparities have resulted in the COVID-19 crisis having a disproportionate impact on communities of color and the poor. We look at how health systems and communities can respond in both the short- and long-term to minimize disparities in access to credible health information.

Supporting Clinician Wellbeing and Thriving After COVID-19 – William Maples, MD

In this episode, Dr. Maples discusses the emotional impact of COVID-19 on clinicians. He shares how healthcare systems and leaders can support the healing process and move toward an environment that doesn’t just prevent burnout, but one in which clinicians can thrive and reach their highest human and healing potential.

Emotional Impact of Disaster Response and COVID-19 – Kimberly Glassman, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAONL, FAAN

In this episode of the Caring Greatly™️ Podcast, Dr. Glassman and I discuss what disaster response looks like in a situation like the COVID-19 surge in New York City. We talk about the importance of rest and seeking mental health support, as well as the ways that teamwork and support can lessen the challenges of care team member redeployment. Dr. Glassman also looks ahead to lessons learned from the current response that includes changes in clinician training, telemedicine, and innovation partnerships.

Hard Conversations and COVID-19 – Chris DeRienzo, MD, MPP

In this episode, Dr. DeRienzo discusses the challenges of expressing humanity at a time when physical distancing and infection isolation are the norm. He also talks about transformations in telemedicine and the need to create clearer supply chain responsibilities to prepare for a future pandemic.

Virtual Rounding for Humanity and Recovery During COVID-19 – Sue Murphy, RN, BSN, MS

Sue Murphy, RN, BSN, MS, is the chief experience and innovation officer at the University of Chicago Medicine (UCM). As the leader of UCM’s Patient Experience and Engagement Program, Sue is a tireless champion for augmenting positive practices and supporting humanity and well-being for patients, families, and care team members. Like many experienced teams, Sue and her team had built a rounding program prior to COVID-19 in which leaders would check in on patients, solve immediate comfort needs, and gather feedback on care (including kudos for team members). At the onset of COVID-19 infection control protocols that precluded in-person rounds, Sue and her team pivoted to virtual, phone-based rounding. The team is creating connection and caring relationships that support recovery from the stress of a COVID-era hospitalization before the patient leaves the hospitals, and helping care team members know they are not alone in caring for patients.

End of Life with Dignity and Humanity During COVID-19 – Jessica Nutik Zitter, MD, MPH

Jessica Nutik Zitter, MD, MPH, is a critical and palliative care specialist, author, filmmaker, and national advocate for transforming the way people die in America. She is the author of Extreme Measures, and the creator of the acclaimed documentary short Extremis and the forthcoming Caregiver: A Love Story. In this special edition of the Caring Greatly™ podcast, we talk about the unique challenges of end-of-life decision making and support during the COVID-19 crisis.

Clinical Communication Technology and COVID-19 – Ben Kanter, MD, FCCP

Ben Kanter, MD, FCCP, is a pulmonologist and the chief medical information officer at Vocera Communications. In this special edition of the Caring Greatly™ Podcast, Dr. Kanter and I discuss the complexities of standing up communication infrastructure in COVID-19 surge environments. Dr. Kanter shares his experience working with health systems across the globe to improvise communication protocols that support clinicians working in surge tents, pop-up ICUs, and other novel environments. We conclude with how the communication adaptations required to respond to COVID-19 will lead to long-term revolutions in communication infrastructure.

Clinical Communication and COVID-19 – Rhonda Collins, DNP, RN, FAAN

Rhonda Collins, DNP, RN, FAAN, is the chief nursing officer at Vocera Communications. In this special edition of the Caring Greatly™ podcast, Dr. Collins describes how nursing leaders across the country are tackling the unique challenges of COVID-19. She covers how technology can enable clarity and connection at a time when the frontlines are facing unprecedented levels of uncertainty, anxiety, and isolation. As we begin to emerge from COVID-19, Dr. Collins envisions a world where clinician and staff support will be more critical than ever before.

End-of-Life Conversations and COVID-19 – Jennifer Brokaw, MD

Jennifer Brokaw, MD, is an emergency physician, author, and patient advocate. In this special edition of the Caring Greatly™ podcast, we discuss the importance of end-of-life conversations in the era of COVID-19. We dive into the kinds of depths and detail that families and loved ones can and should discuss to be prepared for what’s possible and lessen the trauma of last-minute decision making.

Protecting Clinicians’ Humanity During COVID-19 – M. Bridget Duffy, MD

M. Bridget Duffy, MD, is the chief medical officer at Vocera Communications. In this special edition of the Caring Greatly™ podcast, Dr. Duffy shares insights into the experiences of clinicians and leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic. She discusses the need to provide safety and support to clinicians on the frontlines, and how clinicians are providing care and resources in their communities outside of their official roles.

Trust Through Human Connection and Communication – Lisa Fitzpatrick, MD

In this episode of the Caring Greatly™ Podcast, Dr. Fitzpatrick and I discuss the role of human connection in addressing health disparities. It is easy for C-Suite leaders to get mired in the daily complexities of care delivery and lose touch with the underserved in their communities. This makes it crucial to step back and meet patients where they are, to build understanding, connection, and trust. There is so much to learn from the community that can inform solutions to the foundational issues of misinformation and mistrust, which are enormous drivers of cost and reduced outcomes.

Unleash Humanity with Technology – Alan Dubovsky, MBA

In this episode of the Caring Greatly™ Podcast, Mr. Dubovsky explains how a close partnership between experience and technology simplifies the work and provides a foundation for mutual effectiveness by maximizing adoption and minimizing mistakes. For a technology to be effective in delivering results, it needs to be intuitive, integrated securely with existing systems, and implemented seamlessly with existing initiatives. For a technology to unleash human potential, the people and teams involved need to discover and seize opportunities for deep cooperation and coordination.

Leading a Human-Centered Community – Bob Henkel, LFACHE

In this episode of the Caring Greatly™ Podcast, we discuss how to build a community-based organization centered on vision and values and built on a foundation of trust. According to Mr. Henkel, it can be all too tempting to compromise that foundation with excuses or a lack of transparency. Instead, leaders must have the courage to weigh every decision through the lens of mission, vision, and values. For example, when a series of acquisitions made hundreds of administrative jobs redundant, Mr. Henkel and his team gave affected employees two-years advance notice that their positions would be eliminated. This gave team members the opportunity to skill up, apply for other positions in the organization, or seek opportunities elsewhere before their jobs ended.

Technology’s Role in Mitigating Cognitive Overload – Rhonda Collins, DNP, RN, FAAN

In this episode of the Caring Greatly™ Podcast, we look at how cognitive load and overload affect nursing practice. We consider what can happen when technology is introduced into clinical workflow without considering how it may diminish clinicians' ability to focus on critical patient care tasks. We delve into how technology can be used to mitigate cognitive overload so that clinicians can be fully present at the bedside. And we look at the role of clinical leaders in shepherding in the future of healthcare technology.

Human-Centered Leadership as the Foundation of Effective Care – Shannon Phillips, MD, MPH, FAAP, SFHM, CPPS

In this episode of the Caring Greatly™, we discuss how embracing human-centered leadership is foundational to providing safe, high-quality care in an environment of respect and teamwork. We delve into Intermountain’s experience promises (always safe, always present, always together) and look at how they apply at all levels and in all interactions across the system. We also explore, the “proofs” that demonstrate success.

Creating a Culture of Empowerment – Terry Hudson-Jinks, MSN, RN

In this episode of the Caring Greatly™ podcast, we discuss what it means to instill a culture that is AlwaysThinkingAhead™ and how shared purpose can overcome the inherent tension between procedural checklists and creative thinking in healthcare. To bring a culture of empowerment to life, Ms. Hudson-Jinks and her fellow leaders are investing funds towards realizing brilliant ideas from team members and patients alike.

The Value of Human-Centered Leadership – Arden Krystal, MHA, CHE

In this episode of the Caring Greatly™ podcast, Ms. Krystal and I discuss the challenges female leaders face when they try to take a human-centered approach to leadership, as well as the benefits to the system when leaders and team members alike are empowered to bring their full humanity to work.

Storytelling for Empathy and Connection – Emily Silverman, MD

In this episode of the Caring Greatly™ podcast, Dr. Silverman describes stories as a way for humans to make sense of a chaotic universe and for each individual to find their place within it. She sheds light on how to unleash the healing power of stories to create human connection and empathy for others and for ourselves. Finally, we explore the value of storytelling within an organization and consider how to foster a culture of storytelling.

The Transformative Power of Human Connection – M. Bridget Duffy, MD

In this episode of the Caring Greatly™ podcast, Dr. Duffy distills the power of human connection. We explore how changing the conversation can ignite a movement, and how bringing people together unleashes the potential energy of change. We discuss the power of voice in conveying the nuance of human hopes and fears, and the role of technology in restoring humanity to healthcare.

Inclusion and Equity in Medicine – Angela Goepferd, MD

In this episode of the Caring Greatly™ podcast, Dr. Goepferd champions an inclusive approach to healthcare that supports all patients in reaching their full potential. We discuss how her work to create a pediatric clinic serving LGBTQ and gender-diverse youth at Children’s Minnesota has helped their system transcend diversity efforts and begin to lay a foundation of inclusion. Throughout, Dr. Goepferd notes the importance of human connection in healing health disparities, and we close with an examination of technology’s role in amplifying those connections in the not-so-distant future.

Humanizing Lean Leadership – Susan Ehrlich, MD

In this episode of the Caring Greatly™ Podcast, Dr. Ehrlich and I talk about what it means to lead with humility and how her organization evaluates and trains principle-based leadership. We discuss how Dr. Ehrlich works to model deference to expertise with her team members and in her direct partnership with patient-family advisors. As both CEO and eventual end user, Dr. Ehrlich closes by sharing her plans for an EHR implementation centered around the principle of respect for team members and patients alike.

The Science of Clinical Technology – Sean Spina, PharmD

In this episode of the Caring Greatly™ Podcast, Dr. Spina and I talk about why it’s important to evaluate clinical communication technologies rigorously and with an eye toward improving care practice. We examine the ways that technology gets held to both higher and lower standards when organizations approach adoption and design protocols for safe and appropriate use.

Patient Stories Made Visible – Regina Holliday

In this episode of the Caring Greatly™ Podcast, Ms. Holliday and I talk about the importance of transparency and clarity in healthcare communication, the power of art in advocacy, and how healthcare leaders can bridge the gap between their insider perspective and that of patients, families, and community members to create a future healthcare system that serves the needs of all.

Love-Driven Technology Strategy – Norma Tirado, MBA

In this episode of the Caring Greatly™ Podcast, Ms. Tirado and I talk about her role spanning human resources and information technology and how this helps to humanize the selection and implementation of technology. We cover the importance of bringing technology and clinical teams together to drive transformation, and how shifting a culture to focus on love changes everything.

Restoring Meaning and Joy in Work – Christine Sinsky, MD

In this episode of the Caring Greatly™ podcast, Dr. Sinsky shares insights into the importance of system-level change for burnout prevention, as well as specific recommendations for practice re-engineering that can reinvigorate care team members and help restore purpose and meaning to work.

Building a Culture of Kindness – Shannon Landry, RN, BScN, MN

In this episode of the Caring Greatly™ Podcast, Ms. Landry delves into the transformative power of kindness as a cultural focus and how kindness is measured as part of Bluewater’s strategic plan. We also explore a human-centered approach to decision making in which the executive team keeps “Emily,” the composite personification of patients and team members, at the center of every decision.

Amplifying Joy for Well-Being and Outcomes – Ron Paulus, MD, MBA

In this episode of the Caring Greatly™ podcast, Dr. Paulus describes how he and his team expanded from a focus on safety to one that put team member well-being at the center of the system’s strategy. Mission Health implemented a multi-pronged, system-level program to reduce hassles and amplify joys in daily work.