The MedStar Health Center for Wellbeing was launched to further develop and promote an innovative and supportive culture that prioritizes professional fulfillment and wellbeing for every MedStar Health associate.
MedStar Health formally established the MedStar Health Center for Wellbeing in November 2021 after years of successful foundational wellbeing activities. With a long history of important collaboration in influence, business innovation, and efficiency of practice optimization, the system designated MedStar Institute for Innovation as its organizational home, with medical affairs, nursing, and human resources serving as critical partners.
The creation of the MedStar Health Center for Wellbeing demonstrates that wellbeing is and will remain a top organizational priority and that MedStar Health is committed to strengthening its innovation, research, and education leadership in this space. MedStar Health’s wellbeing efforts have already earned Joy in Medicine™ recognition from the American Medical Association (AMA; 2021), nine “Healthiest Maryland Businesses” recognitions from the Maryland Department of Health (2022-2024), and a gold level “Well Workplace” award from the Wellness Council of America (WELCOA; 2023).
Goals
Overall, the team will work toward four main goals as the MedStar Health Center for Wellbeing continues establishing itself within MedStar Health and the national wellbeing landscape:
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Ensure widespread engagement in and recognition of wellbeing programs and priorities
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Embed wellbeing into the organizational culture with programs like Stress First Aid, peer support, and more
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Maintain a wellbeing research arm that validates and publishes world-class healthcare wellbeing programs
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Make MedStar Health the best place to work in health care
What we offer
The MedStar Health Center for Wellbeing makes a positive impact by supporting individuals and creating a culture of wellbeing. The team fundamentally transforms how associates cope with the stresses of working in health care, and supports those who help others do so. We work to overcome healthcare associates’ hesitancy to seek care for themselves by driving meaningful engagement in and expansion of wellbeing initiatives and resources.
Programs that support individuals
Local initiatives
- Local wellness committees
- Physical health initiatives
- Health fairs
- Power to Heal fundraising for local entities
- Wellness rounds
- Workflow optimization
Support services
- Digital infrastructure
- Backup child and elder care
- Nurse wellbeing specialists
- Concierge appointments
- Career support
Research and program development
- Healthcare professional wellbeing consortium
- Wellness champions
- Wellbeing pilot grants
- Nurse wellbeing leader course
- Wellbeing survey
Education and training that creates a culture of wellbeing
Peer support
- Peer to peer training and support program
- Care for the Caregiver
- Integrated reporting
Mental health support
- Stress first aid training and certification
- Mental health coaching
- Expedited mental health for associates and their children
- Suicide prevention
Wellbeing information
- Annual National Nurse Wellbeing Conference
- Here for You materials
- Microsoft Teams app
- Leadership, parental, and remote hubs
- Quarterly advocate award
- Wellbeing newsletter
Leadership
Following are the MedStar Health Center for Wellbeing leaders and the areas they oversee. They work in close collaboration with mental health coaches and therapy experts, a steering committee, wellness champions and committees, and an executive advisory committee.
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Daniel Marchalik, MD
Executive Director, MedStar Health Center for Wellbeing
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Heather Hartman-Hall, PhDBehavioral Health Programs; GME Wellbeing
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Maria Leber, PA-CAdvanced Practice Provider Wellbeing
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Shane MurrAssociate Wellbeing
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Cassie O'Malley, DNP
Nurse Wellbeing
Associate resources
Wellbeing Initiatives for MedStar Health:
Videos:
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Being well in your workplace event (Nov. 2, 2022)
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LinkedIn Live: MedStar Health Center for Wellbeing (March 3, 2022)
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The MedStar Health Center for Wellbeing’s impact on associates (March 2, 2022)
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Introducing the MedStar Health Center for Wellbeing (Feb. 28, 2022)
In the news
Written by MedStar Health professionals:
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MedStar Health Newsroom, “MedStar Health Receives Nine ‘Healthiest Maryland Businesses’ Awards for Third Consecutive Year” (Oct. 7, 2024)
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MedStar Health Newsroom, “Stress First Aid: A Practical Approach to Caring For Your Mental Health” (May 15, 2024)
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MedStar Health Newsroom, “MedStar Health Receives More National and Regional Recognition as a Healthy Workplace” (June 8, 2023)
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MedStar Health Newsroom, “MedStar Health Earns Nine ‘Healthiest Maryland Businesses’ Recognitions from the Maryland Department of Health” (Sept. 8, 2022)
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MedStar Health Blog, “5 Steps to Start Prioritizing Your Wellbeing” (May 4, 2022)
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MedStar Health Newsroom, “MedStar Health Launches New Center for Wellbeing” (Feb. 28, 2022)
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MedStar Health Blog, “How Prioritizing Your Wellness Benefits Those Around You” (Nov. 3, 2021)
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MedStar Health Newsroom, “MedStar Health Recognized By American Medical Association As a Joy in Medicine™ Health System” (Oct. 7, 2021)
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Harvard Business Review, “Put Doctors at the Center of Health Care Tech” (Nov. 30, 2020)
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Harvard Business Review, “What Health Care Can Teach Other Industries About Preventing Burnout” (Oct. 26, 2020)
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Modern Healthcare, “Re-envisioning healthcare in the COVID-19 Era” (Sept. 30, 2020)
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The Lancet, “Physicians, oaths, and vampires” (Sept. 21, 2019; Note: Dr. Marchalik writes a regular column for The Lancet)
Research highlights
Read on to find a selection of recent research highlights from MedStar Health Center for Wellbeing team members on subjects related to provider and associate wellbeing.
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Marchalik, D., Goldman, C., Alger, J., Rodriguez, A., Catomeris, A., Lynch, J. H., Padmore, J., Mete, M., & Krasnow, R. (2020). The impact of gender and institutional factors on depression and suicidality in urology residents. The Canadian journal of urology, 27(6), 10471–10479.
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Morales, C., & Brown, M. M. (2021). CE: Providing Care for Caregivers During COVID-19. AJN The American Journal of Nursing, 121(5), 38-45.
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Apathy, N. C., Rotenstein, L., Bates, D. W., & Holmgren, A. J. (2022). Documentation dynamics: Note composition, burden, and physician efficiency. Health Services Research.
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Apathy, N. C., Hare, A. J., Fendrich, S., & Cross, D. A. (2023). I had not time to make it shorter: an exploratory analysis of how physicians reduce note length and time in notes. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 30(2), 355-360.
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Hartman-Hall, H., Kanwal, A., Jory, L., Maharaj, A., Prasad, R., Desale, S., Henricus, M., Jones, L.C., & Detterline, S. (2023). Scribes with PGY-1 Residents on Inpatient Medicine Teams: Effect on Time Spent in Meaningful Work. Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives, 13(1), 25.