Sheryl L. Heron, MD, MPH

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Work/Life Balance

• Sheryl L. Heron, MD, MPH
• Associate Professor/Associate Residency Director
  Department of Emergency Medicine
• Assistant Dean Medical Education Student
  Affairs Grady Campus
• EMORY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
• sheron_at_emory.edu

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Overview

• What is work/life balance?
• Whats next?
• Career Demands
• Relationship Demands
• Attention to Self
• The Big Picture

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Work/Life Balance

• Term coined in 1986
• Explain the unhealthy life choices that many
  people were making
• Neglect of other important area of their lives
  such as family, friends, and hobbies in favor of
  work-related chores/goals
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work-life_balance

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Work-Life Balance Integration
Life/Family
Work
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The End of the Road (or the Beginning)

• Whats Next? Its good to be the Chief
• Academic
• Community
• Fellowship
• Locum Tenems

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Relationship Demands

• Youre done, its my time now
• Prime age to begin/expand families
• Sandwich generation
• Can you handle them all

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Sandwich Generation

• Traditional
• sandwiched between aging parents who need care
  and/or help and their own children.
• Club Sandwich
• those in their 50s or 60s, sandwiched between
  aging parents, adult children and grandchildren.
  OR those in their 30s and 40s, with young
  children, aging parents and grandparents.
• Open Faced
• anyone else involved in elder care.
• (Term coined by Carol Abaya)

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Attention to Self

• Organization
• Organization
• Organization
• Prioritization
• Resources

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Work-Life Culture

• What exists?
• Is it valued?
• Are there policies?

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An Example

• Emory University Department of Emergency
  Medicine Wellness Well-Being Committee
• University Work Life Initiative
• Strengthen work-life culture for individual and
  families

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ACEP Wellness
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Creating a Schedule

• Prioritization
• Yearly, Monthly, Weekly, Daily
• Family/Non-negotiables
• Vacations, Reunions 1st priority
• Fill in the Blanks
• Utilize your Resources

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Time Management

• Enhances Work-Life Integration by
• More Control of your life
• Improved Relationships
• Increased Productivity

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Resources

• Family
• Colleagues
• Community
• Administrative Support
• You

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Tap into Resources

• Human Resources?
• Dual Career Programs?
• Family Medical Leave?
• Mentoring Programs
• Faculty Staff Assistance Program

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The Big Picture

• Keeping the Balls in Motion
• Monitoring the Balls
• Dropping the Balls
• Assessing the Balance

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The 6 Things That Keep You Well

• What keeps you balanced
• Articulate Clearly and Often
• Share them with your family and friends
• Tap into them

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Benefits

• Work-life Integration Benefits to the
  Organization
• Measured increases in individual productivity,
  accountability and commitment
• Better teamwork and communication

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Benefits

• Work-life Integration Benefits to the
  Organization
• Improved morale
• Less negative organizational stress

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Benefits

• Work-life integration benefits to the individual
• More value and balance in your daily life
• Better understanding of what your best individual
  work life integration is
• http//www.worklifebalance.com/5steps.html

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Benefits

• Work-life integration benefits to the individual
• Increased productivity
• Improved relationships both on and off the job
• Reduced stress
• http//www.worklifebalance.com/5steps.html

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Burnout

• Elevated levels of burnout exist among a
  substantial percentage of surveyed Emergency
  Physicians
• Classified broadly in terms of negative
  perceptions of self, negative practice habits and
  attitudes, and unhealthy lifestyle.
• Goldberg et al Acad Emed 1996 - , Vol 3,
  1156-1164

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Burnout Correlates

• Self- recognition of burnout
• Lack of job involvement
• Negative self- assessment of productivity
• Dissatisfaction with career

Goldberg et al Acad Emed 1996 - , Vol 3,
1156-1164
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Burnout Correlates

• Sleep disturbances
• Intent to leave the practice within 10 years
• Higher levels of alcohol consumption
• Lower levels of exercise

Goldberg et al Acad Emed 1996 - , Vol 3,
1156-1164
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Tolerance for Uncertainty, Burnout Satisfaction

• Survey of 193 ED Physicians (ACEP members)
• Validated measures of career satisfaction,
  tolerance for uncertainty, and burnout
• High level of career burnout in 62 respondents.
• No demographic variables were associated with
  burnout status.
• High anxiety caused by concern for bad outcomes
  (odds ratio6.35) was the strongest predictor of
  career burnout

Kuhn et al Annals EM Feb 09
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Tolerance for Uncertainty, Burnout Satisfaction

• 32.1, exhibited emotional exhaustion, which is
  the core symptom of burnout.
• Emotional exhaustion was not related to age or
  type of practice
• Physicians studied did not feel anxiety because
  of general uncertainty, difficulty in disclosing
  uncertainty to patients, or admitting errors to
  other physicians.
• High anxiety caused by concern for bad outcomes
  was the strongest predictor of burnout.

Kuhn et al Annals EM Feb 09
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Tolerance for Uncertainty, Burnout Satisfaction

• Despite exhibiting emotional exhaustion, the
  majority of respondents are satisfied with the
  career of emergency medicine

Kuhn et al Annals EM Feb 09
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Career Satisfaction 1994-2004

• Random sampling of 1008 Emergency Physicians
• 2004 - 65.4 EPs reported high career
  satisfaction, while 12.4 EPs reported low career
  satisfaction (n 515)

Cydulka Korte 2007 Acad. EMED - Abstract
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Career Satisfaction 1994-2004

• Higher career satisfaction was associated
• teaching settings, research, publication,
  leadership positions, belonging to medical
  organizations/medical politics.
• 1/3rd of respondents (33 in 1994, 32 in 1999,
  31 in 2004) reported that burnout was a
  significant problem.

Cydulka Korte 2007 Acad. EMED - Abstract
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Strategies for Work-Life Integration

• Implement Engage in effective stress and time
  management techniques
• Learn to say No and stick to your answer
• Be realistic in Setting Goals (24hrs/day)

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Strategies for Work-Life Integration

• Get rid of clutter and unnecessary things
• Monitor the Balance Self-Check
• Remember the negative consequences if work/life
  is not balanced
• Use your resources

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Summary

• Work/life integration is attainable
• Pay attention to Self and Family
• Determine your career path
• Prioritize your demands
• Utilize your resources

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Conclusion

• Good luck
• Remember the Big Picture
• Congratulations