Western Carolina Medical Society Foundation Inc.

WCMS Healthy Healer Program: Using the medical society as a vehicle to address physician burnout

The Western Carolina Medical Society Foundation’s (WCMS) Healthy Healer Program’s primary goal is to create a culture in the house of medicine that openly supports providers who seek help for burnout and psychological distress, instead of stigmatizing and punishing them. Using  the medical society as a trusted and neutral vehicle, WCMS will offer easily accessible coaching, counseling, burnout prevention retreats, and print/on-line resources to all physicians in the region, regardless of institutional affiliation.

For the past 3 years, addressing physician burnout has been at the top of WCMS’ strategic agenda. WCMS is particularly concerned with creating a culture in the house of medicine that supports instead of stigmatizing and punishing providers who seek help for psychological distress. The medical society’s goal is to serve as a safe, neutral, confidential welcoming place for all physicians and their families who need and seek help. The challenge is to normalize and change the culture around physicians’ abilities to seek and receive assistance when they need it.  WCMS’ programming will drive this cultural shift in the medical community.

The program includes:

1. Therapy/counseling
2. Professional coaching
3. Prevention/educational offerings

WCMS’ HHP will facilitate private coaching and therapy services from certified, experienced coaching professionals and licensed mental health professionals in order to enable members to improve their mental and emotional health and well-being and inspire them to maximize their personal and professional potential. The HHP will also develop and offer high quality educational materials, meetings, seminars and retreats for physicians and their loved ones.