No matter your level of training or experience, all clinicians find certain patients challenging to connect with in a therapeutic way. Balint Groups have helped clinicians worldwide to improve their ability to connect with and care for their patients. The supportive environment of a small group of colleagues helps clinicians to reduce burnout and rediscover joy in medicine. Watch this video to learn more about Balint groups and the Balint method.
This Past the Pandemic ECHO series offers providers and other staff working in health care settings an opportunity to navigate, normalize and validate worries, stressors and experiences related to various health care environments. Participants will develop an awareness of the manifestations of stress along a continuum. With this framework, each session will provide helpful, tangible tools in a psychoeducational, didactic format to increase capacity, mitigate burnout, elevate connectedness and mindfulness, and promote self-efficacy and quality patient care.
This series is the newest iteration of Past the Pandemic, launched in 2020, and provides updated curriculum to capture current stressors in health care. This program is now a part of a state-wide initiative, Colorado CARES, aimed at increasing health care worker retention and resiliency.The Department of Medicine Staff Mentorship Program was developed by the WellDOM initiative to help staff find experienced mentors who can guide them on their professional journeys and is tailored to the unique needs of administrative staff within the department.
Key Dates:
September 2023 – Applications submitted and reviewed. Mentors & mentees will be selected and grouped for
the program
WellDOM is excited to offer the opportunity to explore the use of biofeedback devices to enhance relaxation and mindfulness. Department of Medicine employees can sign up for a 6-week pilot project to experience a technology-based
biofeedback tool. Choose from two devices:
HeartMath: a biofeedback tool that senses your heart rate variability and translates that into a visual output to help you increase relaxation and a state
of coherence. Coherence is a specific sinusoidal pattern of heart rate variability that has been shown to correlate with improved mood, states of relaxation and increased energy. HeartMath is a device that is worn on the ear and communicates to your
cellphone.
Muse: a research-grade EEG device that passively senses your brain activity and translates it into the guiding sounds of weather to help you stay calm and focused. Muse is a device worn on the forehead and communicates to your cellphone. It measures brain wave activity and correlates types of activity with audible feedback.
For questions and to sign up for the program, please contact Lara Kirk-Bride Romero or Francie Palmer.
Modeled
after COMPASS Groups at Mayo Clinic, which saw a decrease burnout as much as 15 percent. Open to all Department of Medicine staff, faculty (APP's, MDs, DO, PhD's) and trainees, these self-formed groups of 6-7 participants meet 6 times in six months
for at least one hour over a meal, and talk about a topic from a list of topics developed for the groups. If you are interested in forming and leading a WellDOM @ the Table group Contact Kristin Jensen (kristin.jensen@cuanschutz.edu).
WellDOM @ the Table Leader Instructions 2022–23
Lift up the many courageous, compassionate and extraordinary things that you and your teams do every day by recognizing your teams and people. DOM Employee Recognition Nomination Form
The Stress Continuum was first created for use by the U.S. Marine Corps for use in combat setting. Often used as a snapshot at how soldiers were managing stress in combat operations, Lauren McGladrey, PMHNP, senior instructor in the College of Nursing, adapted the Stress Continuum for First Responders.
The Stress Continuum can be used as a self-assessment tool, in order to provide those affected by single incident or cumulative stress to detect early and late changing reactions caused by overwhelming stress. Stress Continuum badge cards are available upon request by contacting Katie Morrison.