As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to place tremendous strain on the resiliency and wellbeing of caregivers, some 120 Massachusetts hospitals, physician organizations, and healthcare leaders have signed on to an effort led by the Massachusetts Medical
Society (MMS) and Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association (MHA) to continue their efforts in addressing clinician burnout. Leaders from each of the organizations listed below have committed to measuring a specific contributing factor to clinician
burnout, and prioritizing improvements in that area as an institutional goal.
The MMS-MHA Joint Task Force on Physician Burnout (TFPB), in collaboration with local and national organizations, has closely analyzed the causes of physician and clinician burnout, and has identified and shared effective burnout reduction strategies.
The task force continues to pinpoint opportunities to reduce administrative burden and other contributors to clinician burnout, and actively advocates for their adoption. Now more than ever, the TFPB members believe commitment at the highest levels
of the healthcare organization is necessary to effectively reduce clinician burnout.
Each of the organizations listed below will select a measure of clinician wellness or burnout, measure its prevalence in their organization over time and include improving that measure as an institutional goal.
“Our caregivers are often called heroes, but they are still very much human and are subject to more stress and strain than ever before,” said Steve Walsh, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association. “Our hospitals and
healthcare leaders are focused on ensuring that our most valuable resource – our clinicians – get the support they need. This latest commitment has the flexibility to allow our organizations to focus on specific areas tailored to their individual
needs, which ultimately helps us address burnout on a united front.”
“The issue of clinician burnout was at an alarming level long before COVID-19. We are fortunate that healthcare leaders and systems came together to acknowledge and begin to address the issue,” said Dr. David A. Rosman, president of the Massachusetts Medical Society.
“During the pandemic, members of the health team demonstrated their unwavering commitment to their patients, no matter the risk. It turned out that the risk was more than COVID-19 – working to the brink of exhaustion and despair, mental health has
been pushed to and in some cases over the edge. This commitment to addressing burnout and deploying institutional improvements is a critical step in assuring that clinicians and all healthcare teams are able to deliver care to our patients through
the pandemic and beyond.”
The TFPB has outlined some its findings in its publications Changing the EHR from a Liability to an Asset to Reduce Physician Burnout and A Crisis in Health Care: A Call to Action on Physician Burnout.
The group’s work also aligns closely with the work of MHA’s Caring for the Caregiver Task Force, which focuses on challenges relating to worker safety, wellbeing, engagement, and development and deployment of staff. A recently released Caring for
the Caregiver Task Force Report, which includes information about clinician burnout provided with MMS leadership, is available on MHA’s PatientCareLink site.
CEO/CMO Clinician Burnout Commitment Letter Signatories (as of 3/31/2021):
AdCare Hospital
Anna Jaques Hospital
Atrius Health
Baycare Health Partners, Inc.
BayRidge Hospital
Baystate Franklin Medical Center
Baystate Medical Center
Baystate Noble Hospital
Baystate Wing Hospital
Berkshire Health Systems
Beth Israel Deaconess Care Organization
Beth Israel Deaconess HealthCare
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital – Milton
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital – Needham
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital – Plymouth
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Beth Israel Lahey Health
Beth Israel Lahey Health Performance Network
Beverly and Addison Gilbert Hospitals
Boston Children’s Hospital
Boston Medical Center
Boston University
Medical Group
Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Brigham and Women’s Physicians Organization
Cambridge Health Alliance
Cambridge Health Alliance Physicians Organization
Cape Cod Healthcare
ACO
Cape Cod Hospital
Circle Health
Coastal Medical
Congenial Healthcare
Cooley Dickinson Health Care
Cooley Dickinson Physician Hospital Organization
Core Physicians
Curahealth Stoughton
Dana-Farber Cancer
Institute
Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital
Emerson Hospital
Emerson Physician Hospital Organization
Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Braintree
Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Western Massachusetts
Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital
Fairview Hospital
Falmouth Hospital
Family Medicine Associates of South Attleboro PC
Franciscan Children’s
Hallmark Health PHO
Harrington HealthCare System
Harrington Hospital PHO
Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians
Hebrew Rehabilitation Center
Hebrew SeniorLife
Heywood Healthcare (includes Heywood Hospital and Athol Hospital)
Heywood Physician Hospital Organization
Highland Healthcare Associates
IPA
Lahey Clinical Performance Accountable Care Organization
Lahey Hospital & Medical Center
Lawrence General Hospital
Lowell General Hospital
Lowell General Physician Hospital Organization
Martha's Vineyard Hospital
Mass General Brigham Community Physicians
Mass General Brigham
Massachusetts Eye and Ear
Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital Physicians Organization
McLean Hospital
MelroseWakefield Healthcare
Mercy Medical Center
MetroWest Healthcare Alliance
MetroWest Medical Center
Milford Regional Medical Center
Milford Regional Physician Group
Mount Auburn Cambridge Independent Practice Association
Mount Auburn Hospital
Nantucket Cottage Hospital
New England Baptist Hospital
New England Quality Care Alliance
Newton-Wellesley Hospital
Newton-Wellesley Physician Hospital Organization
North Shore Medical Center
Northeast Hospital
Corporation
Northeast Physician Hospital Organization
Partners Continuing Care
Partnership for Health in the Berkshires
Pediatric Physicians’ Organization At Children’s
Pentucket Medical Associates
Physician Performance
LLC
Physicians' Organization At Children's Hospital
Reliant Medical Group
Saint Vincent Hospital
Shriners Hospitals for Children – Boston
Shriners Hospitals for Children – Springfield
Signature Healthcare
Signature
Medical Group
South Shore Health
Southcoast Health
Southcoast Health Network
Southcoast Physicians Group
Spaulding Rehabilitation Network
Sturdy Memorial Hospital
Trinity Health Of New England
Tufts Medical
Center
Tufts Medical Center Children’s Hospital
Tufts Medical Center Community Care
Tufts Medical Center Physicians Organization
UMass Memorial Accountable Care Organization
UMass Memorial Health Care
UMass Memorial HealthAlliance-Clinton
Hospital
UMass Memorial Marlborough Hospital
UMass Memorial Medical Center
UMass Memorial Medical Group
VA Bedford Healthcare System
VA Boston Healthcare System
Vibra Hospital of Southeastern Massachusetts
Vibra
Hospital of Western Massachusetts
Wellforce
Winchester Hospital
Winchester Physician Hospital Association
About the Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS):
The Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS) is the statewide professional association for physicians and medical students, supporting 25,000 members. We are dedicated to educating and advocating for the physicians of Massachusetts and patients locally and nationally. A leadership voice in health care, the MMS contributes physician and patient perspectives to influence health-related legislation at the state and federal levels, works in support of public health, provides expert advice on physician practice management, and addresses issues of physician well-being. Under the auspices of the NEJM Group, the MMS extends our mission globally by advancing medical knowledge from research to patient care through the New England Journal of Medicine, NEJM Catalyst, and the NEJM Journal Watch family of specialty publications, and through our education products for health care professionals: NEJM Knowledge+, NEJM Resident 360, and our accredited and comprehensive continuing medical education programs.
About the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association:
The Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association (MHA) serves as the unified voice for Massachusetts hospitals and healthcare providers. Founded in 1936, MHA represents over 100 hospitals, healthcare partners, and patients across the state. Through advocacy, education, and collaboration, MHA’s mission is to improve the overall health of the commonwealth and support providers’ efforts to offer high-quality, affordable, and accessible care.
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