Many health systems know physician well-being is a priority. They have launched surveys, created committees, built peer-support programs, worked to improve practice efficiency and opened new conversations about physician burnout. But when it comes time to apply for recognition through the AMA Joy in Medicine® Health System Recognition Program, leaders may still wonder: Are we ready?
For Heather Farley, MD, MHCDS, group vice president of professional satisfaction and practice sustainability at the AMA, the answer often starts with a simple reminder. Health systems do not need to have every solution in place before they begin.
“You do not have to be perfect to apply,” Dr. Farley said. “If you are waiting until everything is perfect, you are probably waiting too long.”
The Joy in Medicine Program recognizes health systems that have made physician well-being a strategic priority. But Dr. Farley emphasized that the value of applying goes beyond earning Bronze, Silver or Gold-level recognition. The process itself can help organizations take stock of what they have built, identify gaps and bring leaders together around a more coordinated strategy.
“The strongest reason to pursue Joy in Medicine recognition might not be the recognition itself,” she said. “It is the opportunity to take a comprehensive look at how your organization supports physicians and to identify where you can improve.”
“So many health systems are doing meaningful work to support physician well-being, but that work is often fragmented across departments, leaders and initiatives,” Dr. Farley explained. “The Joy in Medicine framework provides a structured, evidence-based road map that helps organizations assess their current state, align efforts around a common strategy and prioritize the changes that will have the greatest impact.”
“The organizations that get the most value from Joy in Medicine are often the ones that view the application as an opportunity to learn about themselves, not just to earn a designation,” she emphasized.
For health systems and organizations thinking about applying to the Joy in Medicine Program, Dr. Farley offers guidance on what leaders can do to take the next step in receiving recognition.
Assess where your health system is today
For health systems that are considering applying, the first step is to “review the Joy in Medicine framework and honestly assess where the organization is today,” Dr. Farley said.
The Joy in Medicine Program centers on criteria across six domains that contribute to well-being. The six domains are:
- Assessment.
- Commitment.
- Efficiency of Practice Environment.
- Teamwork.
- Leadership.
- Support.
That does not mean every element of the framework must be fully developed to begin preparing for a future application. Instead, leaders should understand their strengths, gaps and level of organizational commitment to physician well-being.
“A helpful starting point is to bring together a small group of stakeholders who are already involved in physician well-being efforts, such as physician leaders, quality and safety leaders, human resources, organizational development and executive sponsors, and review the framework together,” Dr. Farley recommended. “Many organizations are pleasantly surprised to discover they have already implemented more elements of the framework than they might have realized.”
For organizations early in the process, the required pillars of assessment and commitment can offer a practical entry point. In the Assessment domain, health systems should be measuring physician well-being with a validated survey tool and sharing results with physicians. In the Commitment domain, organizations should have, or be prepared to establish, a formal structure dedicated to physician well-being, such as an well-being committee or office of well-being.
More broadly, leaders should be able to show that they are listening to physicians, using data to understand their experiences and creating mechanisms for accountability.
Whether health system leaders are new to applying for recognition with the Joy in Medicine Program or are seasoned veterans in the process, it is important to know how to prepare. Dr. Farley shares some key tips for what leaders should keep in mind when applying for—and receiving—recognition from the Joy in Medicine Program, including:
- The importance of keeping stock of your current physician well-being work.
- Why it is key for organizations to build one strategy for ongoing well-being efforts.
- Three common missteps health systems make when applying and how to avoid them.
- View the different levels of the program as progress not the destination.
- After receiving recognition, it’s good to celebrate, but keep the momentum going.
- Show physicians that this work matters and leaders are listening.
- Don’t postpone. Take the next step and apply for recognition.
