Regular team check-ins and a focus on surgeon wellness has helped the staff at Denver-based Orthopedic Centers of Colorado manage stress and burnout, according to Brian Larkin, MD, an orthopedic surgeon and chief medical officer.
Dr. Larkin told Becker's about the practice's strategies for maintaining good mental health and its outcomes.
Note: This response was edited for style.
Question: How do you manage stress and burnout during and outside of work?
Dr. Brian Larkin: The last 18 months have clearly been a trying time for all in healthcare and in the community. This has come in many forms — uncertainty about our health and our patients’ health, uncertainty of whether we could continue to perform our jobs and uncertainty of what recovery from this pandemic may look like.
Orthopedic Centers of Colorado has been actively engaged in physician and staff member wellness throughout the pandemic. This has included regularly checking in across all of our divisions, newsletters to provide resources for all staff if they need assistance and continuing to reinforce a culture of compassionate care for our patients and for staff. As we have gotten back to our orthopedic work, taking care of patients and watching them recover and get back to life has been incredibly uplifting.
We have also focused on the providers and continue to promote a work-life balance and highlighting the benefits of taking time for yourself amidst these unprecedented times. We live in a state where you can be outside year round and spending time outside away from the rigors of healthcare has been very helpful as well.