The past several years have been nothing short of revolutionary in the world of health care, with greater demands for efficiency, quality and patient satisfaction. The result has been an enormous increase in workload and responsibility resting squarely on the shoulders of every provider.

It is no wonder that, parallel to increasing demands, there has been a focus on burnout, disengagement and employee resiliency. For example, research shows burnout rates between 45% and 54% among physicians is the new norm, with other health care professions experiencing similar numbers of disengagement and compassion fatigue. The cost of burnout includes elevated levels of depression and suicide.

Despite these sobering facts, health care workers are often reluctant to tend to their own health needs. Common barriers to seeking self-care include:

• Concerns about confidentiality
• Concerns about whether receiving mental health care will result in problems obtaining a state medical license or hospital privileges
• Perceived stigma
• Time constraints
• Treatment costs
• Uncertainty about efficacy

ADDRESSING WELLNESS ON CAMPUS

Recognizing the health of our own health care family needs to be a priority, leaders at UF Health Jacksonville and the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville developed a new program and center to provide mental health and wellness opportunities for all employees.

The Center for Healthy Minds and Practice, or CHaMP, will serve as a safe, confidential place for all employees to receive wellness and mental health support. It is located in the former cancer building just north of the South Garage on Jefferson Street — near the former bank on the first floor of the parking garage. The building is centrally located, yet has discrete access.

CHaMP’s mission is to:

• Provide free, confidential and unlimited behavioral therapy to all employees
• Provide crisis-response services to averse events on campus
• Develop and maintain a peer-support counseling network to widen the available safety net to employees experiencing acute adversity
• Provide educational and outreach services, including workshops on resiliency and information about other hospital and community services

Access the center by contacting Tami Bellamy at 244.8332. Individual therapy sessions can be scheduled with David Chesire, Ph.D., or the behavioral therapist, Donna Ragucci, LMHC, R.N. Center employees are also available to provide group debriefing or educational services to any department or service in the hospital setting.

In the future, CHaMP hopes to provide group therapy sessions and telehealth opportunities so employees can participate from off-campus locations, from their home computers and during other work shifts.

The center’s goal is to provide a safety net for all employees — regardless of job title, role or work schedule — to ensure everyone has access to services designed to reinforce the very same principles and ideals that drew them to work in health care in the first place.