Rush has been recognized by the AMA for its commitment to supporting the well-being of its physicians.
The Joy in Medicine Program recognizes organizations for their dedication to building well-being and reducing physician burnout.
Rush’s commitment to well-being is built into the infrastructure: The Rush Wellness Center is driven by the philosophy that quality patient care is directly tied to the well-being of our providers. The center provides 24/7 access for staff needs, run by a team that actively rounds and is visible and present in the Rush environment.
These resources proved especially crucial during the COVID-19 public health emergency and remain essential today.
“We've tried to be very agile and adapt to the environment and really listen about what folks need when it comes to work-life balance,” said Paul Casey, MD, senior vice president and chief medical officer for Rush University System for Health. “We want to be thoughtful and make it the best possible environment while providing people the best possible balance in their lives.”
The AMA’s Joy in Medicine program sets the standard for physician well-being and has been recognizing organizations who take tangible steps to support their workforces since 2019. This is Rush's second designation in a row.
“The AMA distinction honors each organization’s commitment to not only the health and well-being of the care team, but also to patients,” said AMA President Bobby Mukkamala, MD. “Quality care ultimately originates from a positive and purposeful work culture where health care professionals can flourish both mentally and physically.”
Leveraging leadership to fight physician burnout
Forty-three percent of physicians surveyed reported experiencing at least one symptom of burnout. That’s down from its peak of 62.8% in 2021. Even as the rate steadily decreases, U.S. physicians remain at higher risk for burnout relative to other U.S. workers.
With the weight of expectations and the pressure of perfection, a physician’s environment is ripe for burnout. Recognizing those barriers, Rush has been focused on building a framework for positive leadership that focuses on trust, respect and honesty so physicians feel empowered to and capable of delivering quality care.
“The most important thing that impacts one’s decision to stay at an organization is the culture, and our culture emphasizes wellness as much as it does excellence,” Casey said. “We are driven by providing the highest quality care in the country with a focus on clinical excellence, which is attractive to those considering joining the Rush team.”
Rush is also exploring ways to integrate AI into the more tedious aspects of health care with the goal of freeing up more time for quality interactions with patients.
"Through our digital AI transformation, we are focused on how we can return the joy to practice and working for our health system," Casey said. "We see incredible potential for AI to remove the mundane tasks that have become part of everyday practice, and we are working aggressively to implement these solutions where they align with our strategic objectives."
Leaders within Rush pride themselves on creating spaces for authentic, transparent and empathetic conversations and care. Making Rush a place where physicians can see themselves growing and advancing in their careers is also a key factor for retention.
“It’s a credit to our teams to be so focused on wellness, and not just physical well-being, also mental well-being,” Casey said. “This recognition not only helps in recruitment, but it also helps us sustain our efforts to continue to make Rush the best possible environment to practice medicine.”