Case Studies

Vanderbilt University developed department-level systems, combined with leadership-backed* prioritization of goals, to adopt wellness initiatives that empowered physician engagement and decreased burnout.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center was well aware of the crisis of provider burnout but did not have an effective or efficient method for measuring, addressing, or preventing it.

• The Ecological Process Model of Systems Change was used to identify, create, and implement interconnected approaches to address provider burnout
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    Gather perspectives from stakeholders across a variety of departments and disciplines using a survey that included 2 quantitative questions and an open-ended question

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    Develop system interventions based on survey results that aligned to a 3-part mission statement

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    Establish institutional accountability for well-being (eg, establish a physician leader for well-being)

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    Empower physician excellence in patient care and innovation (eg, identify priorities at the work-unit level)

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    Support physician self-care (eg, establish time-off best practices)

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    Design an implementation approach divided into short- and long-term priorities and that utilized existing programs to maximize budget

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    Develop a communications plan that would reach all levels of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center to discuss the goals and execution of the interventions

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    Evaluate impact with validated metrics from an occupational burnout assessment tool that measured workplace structures and culture that affect well-being