SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Move the Body, Still the Mind: A Hospitalist Wellness Initiative.

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Indiana University School of Medicine hospitalists created “The Hiking Hospitalists,” a wellness initiative aimed at reducing physician burnout through community building and physical activity. The program was based on evidence that physician burnout is common and linked to lower quality of care, medical errors, turnover, substance use, and suicidal ideation. The group focused on hobby promotion and peer connection, which are known to help improve well-being.<br /><br />A Facebook group was used to organize a team hiking challenge that ran from May 1 to August 31, 2022. Participation was tracked using a points system that rewarded involvement, number of hikes, and hikes completed with other team members. The initiative also included promotional items such as T-shirts and mugs, and concluded with an award celebration and picnic at a local park.<br /><br />Out of 120 invited hospitalists, 60 joined the Facebook group, representing 50% participation. Of those, 29 actively participated by posting hikes, accounting for 48% of group members. Participants completed 117 total hikes, including 25 hikes done with at least one other team member.<br /><br />Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with participants reporting that the program was fun, encouraged healthy change, and helped them connect with colleagues they did not know well or had rarely interacted with outside of work. Many expressed interest in repeating the program in future years.<br /><br />The project concluded that hobby-based wellness programs like this can meaningfully support physician well-being by promoting both physical activity and social connection, and can do so with minimal financial cost to the department.

Asset Subtitle

John A. Botkin

Meta Tag

Author List Darren Caudill, Ella Boardley, Jenna Jones, John A. Botkin, Kate Adaniya, Kathleen Ho

Category Innovations

Concept Physician Burnout

Concept Hiking Hospitalists

Concept Physician Well-Being

Concept Quality of Care

Concept Organizational Wellness Intervention

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Indiana University School of Medicine

Presenting Author John A. Botkin

Track Other

Keywords

physician burnout

wellness initiative

hospitalists

community building

physical activity

peer connection

hiking challenge

employee well-being

social support

burnout prevention

Physician Burnout

Hiking Hospitalists

Physician Well-Being

Quality of Care

Organizational Wellness Intervention