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Description
Abstract
- The stress of transitioning to residency can lead to new or worsening depression, anxiety, and burnout among house staff.1
- Lowering barriers to accessing mental health services and emphasizing preventative mental health care can improve the mental well-being of residents.
- Opt-out programs have been used to target resident physicians and medical students, to increase help-seeking and provide low-barrier access to mental health care and other supports.2-5
- Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (TJUH) is a multi-state not-for profit academic medical system that trains approximately 2,100 house staff/year.
- Opt-out visits began at TJUH as a pilot in 2021 with 2 residency programs. In 2022, the program expanded to include 9 residencies.
- AY21: 76 visits were scheduled. 61% (46/76) opted in. Of those, 24% (11/46) scheduled an intake.
- AY22: 369 visits were scheduled. 32% (118/369) opted in. Of those, 34% (40/118) scheduled an intake.
- This data shows that residents who attend opt-out visits often choose to schedule intake appointments, illustrating increased help-seeking behavior.
- This low-cost intervention can be implemented by all institutions to demonstrate that hospital and program leadership value well-being.
Publication Date
10-17-2024
Keywords
GME, opt-out, well-being, wellness, resident physician
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences | Psychiatry
Recommended Citation
Lisco, MD, Emily; Pierlott, LCSW, Alexandra; and O’Meara, LPC, Meghan, "Enhance Resident Physician Well-being: How and Why to Implement Opt-Out Wellness Check-Ins" (2024). Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior Posters. 6.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/phbposters/6
Comments
Presented at the International Conference on Physician Health™ (ICPH) 2024.