Northwell Health was awarded silver in the American Medical Association’s 2024 Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program, showcasing the health system’s commitment to supporting the well-being of its physicians.
The prestigious AMA distinction is granted to organizations that meet the rigorous criteria of the Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program and acknowledges the nation’s leaders in prioritizing efforts to enhance the well-being and professional fulfillment of physicians.
There are three levels of recognition: Gold, Silver and Bronze.
“As a physician, it is truly a privilege to care for and invest in another human’s well-being,” Mark Talamini, executive director of Northwell Health Physician Partners, said. “However, every individual physician’s well-being is important, and crucial to their success in caring for others. That’s why we have been so focused on enhancing the resources we provide our Northwell physicians. Our goal is for Northwell to be the best place for physicians to invest in their careers.”
The focus on increased physician resiliency peaked during the pandemic, but Northwell has been working to improve conditions for its doctors before then.
Northwell created Stress First Aid workshops in partnership with the health system’s Center for Traumatic Stress, Resilience and Recovery. These workshops help physicians create a plan to improve recovery from stress for themselves and their colleagues.
To help physicians, Northwell recently created Team Well Physicians. It is a tool created by and for physicians that provides resources to help physicians take care of their well being.
Additionally, through Northwell’s Connect the Docs program, physicians across the system host special meals for their colleagues. Connect the Docs is designed to help physicians build connections through a shared meal where they can discuss their work-life, daily stressors and start friendships in a social setting.
“Physicians are humans caring for other human beings, strained by factors beyond their control and challenged by the enormous expectations placed on them to continuously deliver high quality, compassionate care. There is no doubt change is needed, but what needs to change is not the doctors,” Bruce Scott, AMA president, said.
“A national movement is gaining momentum to transform health care work systems and fix the root causes of physician burnout. Health organizations that have earned the AMA’s Joy in Medicine recognition are leading this movement with bold visions for redesigned clinical systems to foster professional well-being and support quality care.”
Since its inception in 2019, the AMA Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program has recognized more than 100 organizations across the country. In 2024, a total of 62 health systems nationwide earned recognition with documented efforts to reduce system-level drivers of work-related burnout and demonstrated competencies in commitment, assessment, leadership, efficiency of practice environment, teamwork and support.
