Work-Life Integration: Persistent Issues and Solutions

Monday, October 2, 2023

1:45 PM - 2:45 PM East Coast USA Time

Location: 204

Moderator(s)

Julie L. Wei, MD MMM FAAP

Professor of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Medical Center
Orlando, FL, United States

Panelist(s)

Jennifer A. Villwock, MD

Vice Chair Innovation, Section Chief, Associate Professor
University of Kansas Department of Otolaryngology
Kansas City, KS, United States
Erin K. O'Brien, MD

Consultant
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, MN, United States
John S. Rhee, MD, MPH, MBA

Chairman, Professor Department of Otolaryngology
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, WI, United States
CN

Cherie-Ann O. Nathan, MD

Professor and Chair of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery
LSU Health - Shreveport
Shreveport, Louisiana, United States

Disclosure(s):

Julie L. Wei, MD MMM FAAP: No relevant relationships to disclose.

Jennifer A. Villwock, MD: No relevant relationships to disclose.

John S. Rhee, MD, MPH, MBA: No relevant relationships to disclose.

Cherie-Ann O. Nathan, MD: No relevant relationships to disclose.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: The term “work-life balance” has been replaced by “work-life integration” to reflect realities that work and life outside of work are rarely distinct. New study by JAMA Health Forum surveyed 20,627 clinicians across 120 large US Healthcare Organizations between Feb 2019 - Dec 2021. Levels of physician burnout is now at over 60% compared to 49% in 2019. Optimizing physician wellbeing using novel and standardized solutions are critical given evidence of continued attrition of clinician workforce.

The panel will highlight concrete examples where policies or lack of, negatively impact physician wellbeing as well as discuss ways to increase autonomy, flexibility, and specific accommodations for increased work-life integration as a daily experience. Panel will discuss challenges through current framework balancing team based goals, productivity mandates, while providing opportunities for greater individual and group work life integration. Panel will explore creating culture change to better measure individual contributions against negative biases, even punitive policies, against female gender, race/ethnicity, age, level of training, and individual core values. Discussion will focus on how to ensure adequate contributions to individual and team-based goals while respecting individual differences and life demands.

Specific to female otolaryngologists, recent research highlighted higher risk of infertility, miscarriages, birthing complications, increased by older maternal age due to delaying pregnancy. During training and early career stage is when specific system solutions are lacking to increase work life integration.

As otolaryngology strive for increased DEI, parental/maternity/family leave with COVID impact are examples of work-life integration challenges. Factors that erode mental/physical health will be explored. Panel will explore framework and possibility of career development beyond traditional publications and academic productivity to ensure retention, career satisfaction, and with fair compensation

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 1: • Examine current culture and systems barriers facing trainees and early-career otolaryngologists when trying to achieve better work life integration

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 2: • Discuss solutions to enhance autonomy, flexibility, specific accommodations, not at the expense of career development or satisfaction in academic and private practice settings

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 3: • Examine common scenarios and challenges that erode mental and physical wellbeing, and policies and solutions that address individual needs as well as patient and team needs

BACKGROUND STATEMENT: I was submitter and moderator for our "work life integration" panel for the 2022 AAOHNS meeting in Philadelphia, and grateful it was wonderfully attended and well received. It was an honor to have been asked to write up that panel for the upcoming Bulletin issue- new panelists, different focus