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Anesthesia providers face many challenges and pressures in their daily lives. Anesthesiologists make life-and-death decisions every day, often in very difficult emergency situations and for long shifts at a time. The resulting stress can take its toll over time, resulting in difficulty sleeping, lack of appetite, clinical depression and other serious issues.
Should you want to be involved in the ASA’s efforts to promote physician well-being, we would love to hear from you! Please contact Amy Vinson, Chair of the Committee on Physician Well-Being.
Each month we will highlight a well-being initiative by our ASA members. Please stay tuned!
The resources listed here have been identified by the ASA Committee on Physician Well-Being. These resources are a representative selection and by no means exhaustive of all resources available. We offer these as options for a wide range of well-being needs and do not necessarily carry the endorsement of the ASA. This material is provided only for informational purposes and does not constitute medical or legal advice.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) offers 24/7 call, text, and chat access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing suicidal, substance use, and/or mental health crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress. People can also dial 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org
Emotional PPE Project
A directory that provides contact information of volunteer mental health practitioners to healthcare workers whose mental health has been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. All services provided through the Emotional PPE Project are free of charge. No personal data is collected by the Emotional PPE Project.
Physician Support Line
A national, free, and confidential support line service made up of 600+ volunteer psychiatrists, joined together to provide peer support for their physician colleagues.
Self-Compassion
Website by Dr. Kristin Neff, Ph.D., one of the world’s leading experts on self-compassion.
Deposition Magic
Resources for clinicians facing adverse outcomes and malpractice litigation including an online course targeted at defendants that focuses on deposition preparedness (cognitive, mental, and emotional). 10% discount on online course and coaching with code ASAMEMBER.
RX/MUSEUM
Initiative to foster a humanistic practice of medicine through visual art and reflective pedagogy developed by a consortium of educators and physicians at Penn Medicine, the University of Pennsylvania, and museums and arts institutions across Philadelphia.
"Together We Fought and Together We Heal"
A powerful video by Scotti Rose Petersen on burnout and compassion fatigue experienced by healthcare professionals during the COVID-10 pandemic.
Calm
Web-based app for sleep, meditation and relaxation. Offering one free week of Calm Premium.
Headspace
Mindfulness web-based app for stress and anxiety. Offering all US healthcare professionals who work in public health settings free access to Headspace Plus through 2021.
The Brave Enough Show – Hosted by Dr. Sasha Shillcutt, a cardiac anesthesiologist, where she discusses how to avoid work/life burnout through community, authenticity, and courage.
The Nocturnists – Hosted by Dr. Emily Silverman, a hospital medicine doctor. A medical storytelling live show and podcast where healthcare workers share stories of joy, sorrow, and self-discovery.
The Happiness Lab – Hosted by Dr. Laurie Santos, a professor of psychology, who teaches Yale’s most popular course “Psychology and the Good Life”.
Sounds True: Insights at the Edge, "Spencer Sherman: The Inner Mastery of Money" – Hosted by Tami Simon. Content forwarded by an ASA member as a useful resource for financial well-being and not endorsed by the ASA Committee on Physician Well-being as a wealth management resource.
Central Line Episode 47: Physician Well-Being - Dr. Striker welcomes Drs. Amy Vinson and Florence LeCraw, from ASA’s Committee on Physician Well-Being, to discuss the committee’s background, work, and goals.
NAM Resource Compendium for Health Care Worker Well-Being
ASA is a member of the National Academy of Medicine Action Collaborative on Clinician Well-Being and Resilience. The Collaborative offers this collection of resources that highlight strategies and tools that health care leaders and workers can use across practice settings to take action toward decreasing burnout and improving clinician well-being.
Organizational Guidelines for the Support of Physician Well-Being for Anesthesiology Practices (PDF)
Developed by the Committee on Physician Well-Being Working Group on Systems & Policy
Creating a Culture of Well-Being for Healthcare Workers Committee Work Product (PDF)
Developed by the Committee on Physician Well-being
Creating a Just Culture of Support (PDF)
Developed by the Committee on Physician Well-being
Creating a Culture of Well-Being for Healthcare Workers Utilizing Coaching Committee Work Product
AMA Burnout Calculator
Helps calculate the organizational cost of physician burnout and estimated savings from burnout interventions
AMA STEPS Forward: Peer Support Programs for Physicians
Outlines specific steps to build a peer support program to mitigate the effects of emotional stressors
AMA STEPS Forward: Creating the Organizational Foundation for Joy in Medicine™
Provides tools to guide the executive leadership team in creating a joyful practice environment and thriving workforce
APA Toolkit for Well-Being Ambassadors
Provides guidance for well-being ambassadors to advocate for systemic reform in their home institution or organization
Ad Hoc Committee on Systemic Life Imbalances
Provides guidance and tools for addressing issues with flexibility in scheduling, caregiving, productivity and promotions, and well-being during the pandemic.
Physician Medical Conditions and Questions on Applications for Medical Licensure, Specialty Boards, and Institutional Privileges
Approved by the ASA House of Delegates on December 13, 2020
List of Federation of State Physician Health Programs (FSPHP) State Member Programs
Physician Health Programs (PHP) are confidential resources for physicians, other licensed healthcare professionals, or those in training suffering from addictive, psychiatric, medical, behavioral or other potentially impairing conditions.
Creating a Culture of Well-Being for Healthcare Workers Committee Work Product (PDF)
Creating a Culture of Well-Being for Healthcare Workers Utilizing Coaching Committee Work Product (PDF)
COVID-19 Town Hall Webinar: Health and Well-Being in Challenging Times
Amy E. Vinson, M.D., FAAP, Chair of ASA Committee on Physician Well-Being recorded this video to help you prioritize wellness during COVID-19
Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress – COVID-19 Pandemic Response Resources
Intensive Care Society of the UK – Well-Being Hub
Excellent selection of action-oriented and pragmatic solution posters for use in conjunction with other well-being initiatives
Summer Camp Hub provides a guide to completely free online summer camps for your children.
Scholastic’s Learn at Home – free 20 days of curriculum for 4 diff age groups
Selections of resources for home-schooling in general:
Best Free Online Homeschool Programs provides a few options for families who wish to homeschool their children.
Free Online Learning Resources for Schools Affected by Coronavirus/COVID-19 Tech & Learning
National Centers for Families Learning:
http://wonderopolis.org/
http://30days.familieslearning.org/
Homeschool worksheets
https://www.123homeschool4me.com/home-school-free-printables/
ASA Statement on Substance Use Disorder
Developed by the Committee on Occupational Health
List of Federation of State Physician Health Programs (FSPHP) State Member Programs
Physician Health Programs (PHP) are confidential resources for physicians, other licensed healthcare professionals, or those in training suffering from addictive, psychiatric, medical, behavioral or other potentially impairing conditions.
International Doctors in Alcoholics Anonymous (IDAA)
Worldwide fellowship of more than 9,900 healthcare professionals, and their families who strive to help one another to achieve and maintain recovery from addictions. Open to doctorate level health care providers, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, certified registered nurse anesthetists, or to those in training for these degrees.
Wearing Masks videos
Produced by the Coalition for the Prevention of Substance Abuse in Anesthesia. Educational tool illustrating the dangers of substance abuse and drug addiction in anesthesia.
National Academy of Medicine (NAM)
Action Collaborative on Clinician Well-Being and Resilience
Network of more than 200 organizations committed to reversing trends in clinician burnout, including the ASA
American Medical Association (AMA)
AMA STEPS Forward Burnout and Well-Being Modules
Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
Well-Being in Academic Medicine
Well-Being in Academic Medicine: Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Tools and Resources for Physician Well-Being
Anesthesia Subspecialty Well-Being Groups
Society for Pediatric Anesthesia (SPA) Well-Being Special Interest Group
Society for Pediatric Anesthesia (SPA) One-Pagers – includes wellness topics
This page is curated by Dr. Jina Sinskey, and was last updated July 2022.