System-Wide Remedies for Physician Burnout with with Stef Simmons, MD

In this episode, Amanda, Laura, and Kendra welcome Dr. Stef Simmons, a board-certified emergency physician and the Chief Medical Officer of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation. Dr. Simmons shares her journey and discusses the critical work of the foundation, created to honor Dr. Lorna Breen, an emergency physician who tragically died by suicide during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Simmons addresses the systemic issues that contribute to burnout and mental health challenges among healthcare workers and outlines national initiatives, legislative efforts, and resources aimed at supporting well-being in the medical field.

Topics Covered:

1. Introduction to Dr. Stef Simmons and the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation
Dr. Simmons shares her background as an emergency physician and a certified coach. She introduces listeners to the Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation, which she supports as CMO, and provides an overview of the foundation’s mission: preventing healthcare worker suicide and addressing the systemic drivers of burnout.

2. The Story of Dr. Lorna Breen
Dr. Simmons recounts the life and legacy of Dr. Lorna Breen, an emergency physician in New York City who faced overwhelming physical and emotional challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite her dedication, Dr. Breen struggled with stigma around seeking mental health support, ultimately leading to her tragic death. This experience led her family to create the foundation in her honor, sparking national conversations about healthcare worker well-being.

3. The Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Workers
Dr. Simmons discusses the heightened challenges faced by healthcare professionals during the pandemic, including increased workloads, insufficient resources, and the shift in public perception from admiration to criticism. She highlights how these challenges, along with rapid changes in healthcare delivery, contribute to burnout and mental health issues.

4. Dr. Simmons’ Personal Journey
Reflecting on her own experiences with postpartum depression during residency, Dr. Simmons shares how the culture of medicine discouraged seeking mental health care. Her journey led her to roles focused on patient and clinician experience, coaching, and ultimately to her current position with the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation.

5. National Efforts to Address Burnout and Mental Health in Healthcare
Dr. Simmons outlines national initiatives, including the Dr. Lorna Breen Healthcare Provider Protection Act, which allocates funding to support healthcare worker mental health and well-being programs. She also highlights collaborations between organizations like the AMA, AHA, and ANA, working together to remove stigmatizing language around mental health in credentialing and licensing.

6. The Foundation’s Statewide Collaboratives and Resources
Dr. Simmons explains the “All In Caring for Caregivers” initiative, starting in Virginia and expanding to other states. These statewide efforts focus on legislative changes, hospital-level interventions, and support for healthcare worker well-being. Resources include the Impact Wellbeing Guide, which offers steps hospitals can take to support clinicians, reduce burnout, and create healthier work environments.

7. Steps Hospitals Can Take to Support Healthcare Worker Well-being
Dr. Simmons shares actionable steps hospitals can take to support their workforce:
- Identify and maintain existing positive practices.
- Listen to staff and establish an interdisciplinary team to guide well-being initiatives.
- Remove stigmatizing language about mental health in credentialing and licensing.
- Establish two-way communication between leaders and staff.
- Measure and support professional well-being through peer support, enhanced mental health resources, and workload impact assessments.

8. The Importance of Coaching and Mental Health Resources
Dr. Simmons and the hosts discuss the role of coaching as a support tool for healthcare workers, emphasizing that while coaching is valuable, it may need to be complemented by other mental health resources. They encourage listeners to advocate for support within their own hospitals, including coaching, therapy, and psychiatric services.

9. Advocacy and the Future of the Dr. Lorna Breen Healthcare Provider Protection Act
Dr. Simmons provides an update on the reauthorization of the Dr. Lorna Breen Act and the importance of bipartisan support for ongoing funding and resources. Listeners are encouraged to advocate for the act and spread awareness within their communities.

10. Closing Thoughts
Dr. Simmons emphasizes that being a caregiver doesn’t preclude one from being a care receiver and encourages healthcare workers to prioritize their well-being. She reinforces the importance of system-level changes in creating sustainable work environments for clinicians.

Resources Mentioned:
- The Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation website: [drbreenheroes.org](http://drbreenheroes.org)
- Information on the Dr. Lorna Breen Healthcare Provider Protection Act
- Impact Wellbeing Guide and toolkit for hospitals
- Champions Challenge Badge for hospitals that remove stigmatizing mental health language from credentialing
- The Foundation’s interactive map tracking state and hospital-level policy changes

How to Get Involved:
- Write to your state representatives in support of the Dr. Lorna Breen Healthcare Provider Protection Act.
- Advocate for changes to credentialing and licensing applications in your hospital or state.
- Consider donating to the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation to support their mission.

Special Offer:
Check out our free video, "How to Crush Physician Burnout for Good Without Cutting Back Hours, Quitting Medicine, or Sucking it Up in Silence," linked in the show notes. This resource provides actionable strategies for managing burnout and sustaining well-being.

Contact Dr. Stef Simmons:
Email: [email protected]
Website: [drbreenheroes.org](http://drbreenheroes.org)

Thank you for listening!
Please leave us a review and share this episode with fellow healthcare professionals.

Resources:

https://drlornabreen.org/

Write your representative to re-authorize and fund the Dr. Lorna Breen Healthcare provider protection act: https://drlornabreen.org/reauthorizelba

Learn how to change the credentialing application at your organization: https://drlornabreen.org/removebarriers

Learn more about the Impact Wellbeing (TM) guide:

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/healthcare/impactwellbeingguide/index.html

Become an ambassador:

https://drlornabreen.org/become-an-ambassador

Donate:

https://drlornabreen.org/donate

Video: How to Crush Physician Burnout for Good