Wellbeing Initiatives for MedStar Health

• Contact MedStar’s Employee Assistance Program 24/7: 866-765-3277

• Call or text the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 24/7: 988

Mental health coaches are licensed mental health professionals available for in-person or virtual support. They provide advice for creating solutions for work/life management, managing trauma reactions, mental/emotional stress, and can help associates identify positive self-care strategies and coping skills to more effectively navigate stress. When needed, they can connect associates to additional mental health resources and support. Mental health coaches also provide customized wellbeing support for teams and small groups. They can create and facilitate workshops and presentations about stress, resilience, and thriving at work. Mental health coaches are available to support any associate or provider in all of our MedStar Health hospitals.

MedStar Health mental health coaches are regularly on-site in our hospital entities and meeting with teams so associates can meet them and be able to reach out to a familiar face when they are seeking support.

For individual coaching sessions, please use this scheduling link.

For group services or consultation such as a team resilience session, visit to a huddle or meeting, presentation, or consultation for a team leader, please complete this request form.

Do I contact a mental health coach or the EAP program?
The Employee Assistance Program (username “medstar”) also provides coaching, support, and referral services with an external provider that MedStar Health contracts to provide these services. Associates are encouraged to use these services in whichever modality is most comfortable for them. If you work or train at MedStar Health but are not eligible for benefits, you may not be able to utilize the EAP but you CAN utilize our internal mental health coaches.

Our goal at the MedStar Health Center for Wellbeing is to create multiple and varied access points for support to remove barriers to accessing the services our associates may need.

For urgent support, the EAP is available 24/7 by phone at 866-765-3277.

Nurse Wellbeing Specialists

Our nursing professionals are here to help nursing staff and nurse support service lines with issues such as stress management, setting health goals, and accessing resources to improve your wellbeing and overcome adversities.

Book a free session here.

We recognize how important it is for you to take care of yourself, even as you are busy taking care of others. Through this initiative with the MedStar Georgetown University Hospital’s Department of Psychiatry, MedStar Health providers and associates can establish contact with a mental health clinician within 1-2 business days of the initial call. The mental health clinician will identify the issues and either provide individual support immediately, or, if deemed helpful, will refer the associate to a mental health provider within Georgetown Psychiatry. Providers with expertise in adult, child, adolescent, and family mental health are available.

To request an appointment, call 202-944-5400. Select "schedule an appointment" and choose "established patients." Be sure to say you are a MedStar Health associate and need an appointment as soon as possible. After hours, leave a general message.

Stay current with wellbeing news, updates, and programs by visiting the Wellbeing icon found on Microsoft Teams.

MedStar Health is committed to providing associates with resources to support their whole-person needs, including those at risk of or experiencing suicidal ideations. Please review the following materials ranging from information on risks of suicide to 24/7 support lines that can be reached in a time of crisis.

• Find tips on how to spot suicide risks and have conversations with someone considering suicide
• Review the National Institutes of Health’s 5 steps to support someone experiencing emotional pain
• Reach a master’s level clinician 24/7 using our EAP’s crisis line: 866-765-3277
• Contact the 24/7 national suicide prevention hotline by calling or texting 988

Sleep

• Sleepiness Scale

Depression, anxiety, and stress

• Depression Screen

• Anxiety, PTSD Screen

• Stress Screen

• Perceived Stress Scale

Alcohol

• Alcohol use

Burnout

• MiniZ Burnout Survey

Mindfulness and relaxation

Books

Apps

Self-care

Video

Articles

Books

Resilience

Books

Apps

Exercise

Employee Discounts (MedStar Health Login Required)

Yoga

Apps

Your comprehensive wellbeing is more than proper physical activity, quality nutrition, and adequate sleep – it’s ensuring your whole-person needs are met. With these resource hubs, access curated content designed for all aspects of your life, both inside and outside of work. Please note: You must be logged into the MedStar Health Network to access this resource.  

• Leader resource hub
• Technology and digital wellbeing hub
• Family resources hub
• Career resource hub
• Financial wellbeing hub
• Graduate medical education hub

Managing finances can be stressful, especially in times like this. Through MedStar’s retirement vendor, Empower, review the following financial wellness resources for support.

Visit the MedStar Employee Assistance Program (EAP) portal to request support and access educational materials. Services include relationship, life transition, financial, convenience, and work/life services. Up to five free counseling sessions are available per unique issue per year. The EAP can also assist in connecting you to other covered services, including continuation of mental health care.

Enter the username "MedStar" to log-in.” Learn more about EAP services.

Care@Work Program for Child and Adult Backup Care

MedStar Health is providing heavily subsidized child and adult care services for associates and physicians, allowing you to remain active in your role. We have contracted with the Care@Work program to make available unlimited referrals for child and adult care providers through Care.com For urgent care needs, the program provides subsidized, vetted in-home care for children and adults, and child care services at participating centers across the region. This benefit is now covered by MedStar Health and available for 10 days of subsidized coverage with a copay of $8/hour for in-home care or $15/day per child at participating child care centers. Enroll at MedStar.Care.com using your MedStar Health email address to validate your employment. Enrolling with a MedStar Health email address also provides access to Premium membership perks, including searching the Care.com database for one-time or recurring babysitters, pet sitters, tutors, and more.

Virtual School Care Needs

The Care@Work benefit may be used to find vetted and subsidized tutors, learning pod teachers, nanny shares, or babysitters to support your children while you work during these unprecedented times. Visit MedStar.Care.com for a school-related resource guide.

Expedited Parent Consultation Service

As part of a partnership between the Center for Wellbeing and the Department of Psychiatry, consultations are available to MedStar Health associates with any concerns about their child's mental health. Those interested in this service will meet with a psychiatrist alone or with their partner to discuss their concerns. Together, the parent(s) and psychiatrist will identify action items and an appropriate treatment plan, which may include reviewing resources; making a referral for psychotherapy, medication management, or a higher level of care; or another outcome.

If you are a MedStar Health associate and would like to schedule an expedited parent consultation, contact the Department of Psychiatry at 202-944-5400, select “new patient,” and then the appropriate age group for the child. Please identify yourself as a MedStar Health associate when requesting this service.

Additional Resources

Parenting

• How to be a good parent
• 7 ways to connect with your children
• What a child needs from a parent

Couples and relationships

• How Long Does It Take to Fix a Marriage? Give the Gottmans 7 Days.
• Three conversations to have when you clash over money
• 5 signs you could benefit from a relationship check-in
• How to have a better relationship

Stress First Aid is a flexible model of small, manageable steps for self-help and peer support for managing stress that affects us at work. Explore the resources below to expand your knowledge of Stress First Aid and stay alert for regular training opportunities designed to deepen your knowledge of the Stress Continuum and the 7 C’s of Stress First Aid.

• Stream an overview of Stress First Aid and MedStar Health's wellness resources
• Complete the on-demand Stress First Aid SiTEL training modules.
  • SFA Intro - A Guide to Stress First Aid (Od-032763)
  • Stress First Aid - Core Train the Trainer (Od-036228)
• Access the Stress First Aid pocket card
• Explore our Stress First Aid app
• Stream the Scrub In podcast episode on Stress First Aid
• To request more information or to pre-register for a future Stress First Aid training cohort, please email wellbeing@medstar.net

• Burnout and other support through the Medical Society of DC's Physician Health Program
• Peer Support Line

Founded in 2018, the Wellness Champions program is a system-wide initiative to support and develop local wellness experts throughout MedStar Health. Every GME program as well as any interested department/team is encouraged to identify and provide time for a volunteer to join our multidisciplinary group of wellness champions. Wellness champions participate in regular meetings to receive the latest information about wellness research and best practices, exchange ideas, collect and understand wellness data, and work together to address challenges in implementing wellness strategies. We will continue work to develop resources and infrastructure for local wellness projects.

If you would like to learn more or are considering becoming a Wellness Champion, please contact Heather Hartman-Hall, PhD.