Improvement of physician worklife is a fundamental objective of the BWPO. Surveys of the staff suggests that most physicians are quite satisfied with the reputation and quality of patient care delivered at BWH and nearly all would refer family members to BWH for care. However, when it comes to clinical support systems and staff, rewards and recognition for clinical work, and the balance between work and family life for physicians, the response tends to be less favorable. In the BWH Staff Surveys of 1999 and 2001, the belief that results of the survey will be acted upon was the measure with the lowest favorability among physicians on both surveys.
Hence the BWPO is embarking on a comprehensive approach to improve physician worklife with a series of initiatives, both short and long term, intended to improve the clinical work environment,make practice easier, enhance rewards and recognition for clinicians and address the balance between work and family life.
Clinical Support: Making practice easier
The BWPO plans to work collaboratively with the ambulatory practice areas and hospital leadership to explore suggestions and implement plans that will make clinical practice easier. Some of the areas being considered include addressing the differing layouts of hospital inpatient care areas, evaluating the number and training of clinical staff and facilitating meaningful feedback and incentives, simplifying the referral process, reviewing space and parking constraints, and considering full implementation of an appropriately adapted electronic medical record for all BWPO clinicians.
Rewards and Recognition
The BWPO is committed to working collaboratively with the clinical departments to reward and recognize our clinicians. BWPO is considering the establishment of annual clinician awards, to be given at an annual awards dinner. Recipients would be selected by their peers for outstanding clinical service and commitment to patient care. The BWPO is also exploring a variety of other forms of recognition in coordination with departmental and hospital efforts.
Work and Family Life Balance
Busy clinical practice in a world class academic medical center can be a significant stressor on the balance between physician work life and family life. In particular, providing value-added services that allow for optimization of physician time is an objective of the BWPO. In order to respond, the BWPO is planning a series of initiatives including:
- Exploring engagement of a concierge service to assist physicians in performing a variety of routine personal tasks and errands that are often difficult to fit into a busy work schedule. The BWPO is actively evaluating a vendor with substantial corporate experience at providing such services;
- Establishment of a financial planning seminar series that will address topics such as estate planning, saving for college education, planning for retirement, investing, tax planning, caring for elderly parents and protecting assets;
- Exploring a preferred relationship with a mortgage banker who would provide enhanced rates and service;
- Exploration of child care and elder care opportunities;
- Establishment of a BWPO orientation for physicians focused on enhanced communication about benefits and services; and
- Establishment of a BWPO resource guide for personal services.
Overall work environment
BWPO physicians are concerned that the overall BWH environment fosters a culture of collaboration between physician and non-physician staff. BWPO is committed to achieving such an environment both in the ambulatory and inpatient areas, as a means to enhance BWPO professional satisfaction and improve patient care. BWPO efforts to improve physician worklife are just beginning, but they are critical to our future success in making practice in the BWPO an enjoyable and satisfying career choice.
Continuous improvement and feedback in this will be critical as we move forward.