EMERGENCY MEDICINE RESIDENCY 2016 ANNUAL REPORT

Emergency Medicine Residency 2016 Annual Report
Spotlights
WELLNESS COMMITTEE
1. Why did you volunteer to serve on the Wellness
Committee?
AG: The committee seemed like a great way to find
new ways to not only improve and boost morale, sense
of balance, and overall wellness within our residency
program but also among the entire department. We all
have room for establishing balance both at and away
from work, and not forgetting about our wellness can
help us do that.
AS: I was elected chief resident, specifically to the
Wellness and Quality chief role. I wanted to re-form
the committee to get a diverse set of opinions and
help with planning events to boost wellness within our
residency and department.
CS: I wanted my time in residency to be as enjoyable
and well-rounded as possible and I wanted to do the
same for my fellow residents. Residency has a way of
taking over our lives – for better or worse. I set a goal
for myself that I wanted to be able to look back on these
3 years and say that I not only survived and became a
great physician but that I had a great time doing it too.
Joining the wellness committee felt like the best way to
accomplish that goal.
2. Tell us about Committee activities this past year.
AG: Activities have varied quite a bit, which has made
for great involvement within the department and developing
relationships on a multidisciplinary basis. Events
have included community service projects at Ronald
McDonald House and Union Gospel Mission.
AS: We’ve made a concentrated effort to include all
disciplines in the department in a wide range of
activities including paddle boarding, kickball, movie
nights, and staff picnics/parties.
CS: We as a committee knew from the outset that we
wanted to plan diverse activities and try and be as
inclusive as possible. Looking back over the last year
I think it’s safe to say that we’ve accomplished our
goal and then some!
Callie Schnitker, Alan Sazama, Allie Grace;
not pictured: Jenni Bennett
3. What was the biggest surprise you had on this
committee?
AG: The interest from the department as a whole
in getting together for activities and to get to know
everyone has been a pleasant surprise. Even already
I have noticed a greater sense of camaraderie overall
which I believe is in large part attributable to these
events.
AS: I’ve been surprised by the willingness of the entire
department to spend time together outside of work.
Frequently on shift techs, coordinators, and nurses ask
me when the next wellness activity is going to be.
CS: The biggest surprise has been how enthusiastic
everyone in the department has been to participate in
these activities. I was expecting to have good turn out
from the residents and maybe some of the younger
nurses and ancillary staff but everyone, of all ages and
titles, has gotten behind these wellness events. We’ve
even had great turn out from people outside the department,
people bringing significant others, spouses and
children to these events – it’s been really great to see.
4. What do you think you’ll take with you when you
graduate?
AG: The Wellness Committee ideas and events have
really highlighted the benefit of getting to know
and enjoy your team. Teamwork in the Emergency
Department is crucial, so developing relationships will
improve patient care but also enjoyment and satisfaction
both at and away from work.
AS: This year has been great for department wellness.
I feel like my relationships with the support staff in our
department have grown not only because of the time
spent working here for the past 3 years but also due
to the time spent together outside of work. We work
better together taking care of patients in the ED
because we’re friends outside of work and trust each
other. Next year at my job in South Dakota I look
forward to developing similar camaraderie with the ED
staff because I do feel it has benefited patient care here.
CS: There are a lot of things that I’ll take from this
experience, but the biggest one is the importance of
connecting with your co-workers on a personal level.
I feel like there has been a huge change in the spirit
in the department over the last year and I credit a lot
of that to the wellness activities. It makes even the
hardest cases and shifts that much more enjoyable.
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