WELLNESS COMMITTEE
A Renewed Mission Alice Min Simpkins, MD FAAEM* and Al’ai Alvarez, MD FAAEM†
R
ecently, the AAEM Mission statement was modified to include the following (emphasis below are author’s):
The American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) is the specialty society of emergency medicine. AAEM is a democratic organization committed to the following principles: 1. Every individual, regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual identity or orientation, religion, age, socioeconomic or immigration status, physical or mental disability, must have unencumbered access to quality emergency care. 2. The practice of emergency medicine is best conducted by a physician who is board certified or eligible by either the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) or the American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine (AOBEM). 3. The Academy is committed to the personal and professional well-being of every emergency physician which must include fair and equitable practice environments and due process.
The Wellness Committee is so appreciative to the Board for acknowledging the impact of well-being on productivity, sustainability, and a sense of fulfillment in our careers. The values embodied in the AAEM Mission Statement reflect the hierarchy of needs that impact our professional and personal well-being. This modified-Maslow hierarchy aimed to capture physician needs has helped guide the Wellness Committee and informed all of our endeavors. As we look to the future with the renewed Mission of AAEM, the Wellness Committee is committed to pursuing and continuing initiatives that impact the well-being of AAEM members to address the diversity of needs and challenges we face and to work across the intersections that influence our sense of purpose and meaning in our work. We are always open to new ideas, innovative and creative pursuits, collaborations across AAEM, and new membership in our committee. Once again, we thank the Board for their commitment and support of the work to continually focus on and improve the well-being of our physicians. *Chair, AAEM Wellness Committee, Assistant Dean, Career Development, Office of Faculty Affairs, Professor, Emergency Medicine University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson @allieminMD
† 4. The Academy supports residency programs and graduate medical Vice-Chair, AAEM Wellness Committee, Director of Well-Being and education free of harassment or discrimination, which are essential Co-Chair of the Human Potential Team, Clinically Associate Professor, to the continued enrichment of emergency medicine, and to ensure a Emergency Medicine - Stanford University School of Medicine @alvarezhigh quality of care for the patient. zzy 5. The Academy is committed to providing affordable high quality continuing medical education in emergency medicine for its members. 6. The Academy supports the establishment and recognition of emergency medicine internationally as an independent specialty and is Heal Patients and Contribute: My institution is in alignment with my values and helps me committed to its role in the advancement of towards professional fulfillment. My institution actively promotes my doctor patient relationship as paramount to the success for our organization and my own fulfillment as a healer of my patients. emergency medicine worldwide.
Appreciation: My institution regularly shows appreciation for my service and talents. My institution recognizes my accomplishments and supports my professional development.
Respect: My hospital listens to my expertise and addresses my concerns to the extent that they are able to. My institution has robust surge planning and actively addresses EM boarding.
Safety: I have access to adequate PPE to protect my health and the health of my family, I have due process with job security when I advocate for my patients. My workplace is supports safety and minimizes risk of violence.
Basics: I can hydrate and have easy access to healthy foods. I have access to support my mental health and am not punished for treating mental illness.
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COMMON SENSE JULY/AUGUST 2022