New Legislation Names March 18 Health Workforce Well-Being Day

Burnout among health care providers across the nation remains high and it’s easy to see why: As health care workers, the demands of serving and protecting others’ health and well-being is often at the expense of our own.

Now two U.S. senators are bringing attention to the challenges we face in prioritizing our own well-being while caring for others. 

Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine and Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall recently introduced a resolution designating March 18 as Health Workforce Well-Being Day of Awareness. 

The designation is intended to help reduce stigma, advance research and ensure providers can get the care they need, which is critical in providing excellent patient care.

This date coincides with the day that the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act was signed into law by President Biden in 2022.

The Breen Act—named in honor of a Charlottesville physician who died by suicide after working on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic in New York—has provided $100 million in funding intended to help address mental health concerns among health care providers across the country.

“The well-being of our nation’s health care providers is essential, and I’m proud to support the Health Workforce Well-Being Day of Awareness on March 18,” said our CEO Nancy Howell Agee. She went on to thank the awareness day's supporters "for continuing to shine a light on the needs of those who dedicate their lives to caring for their neighbors.”

Supporting Our Workforce Every Day

While the Health Workforce Well-Being Day of Awareness is March 18, we provide resources and support to benefit you and your well-being all year long.

Use these resources to be sure you’re caring for yourself as well as you’re caring for our patients:

• Employee Assistance Program: Carilion covers 100 percent of the cost for up to five sessions per year, per issue, with a licensed mental health professional.
• Center for Grief and Healing: Offers effective, supportive and therapeutic services to individuals, families and communities affected by grief and loss.  
• Mental Health Support: Reach out for 24/7 confidential support if you are feeling anxious, hopeless or depressed.
• TRUST Team: Provides support for health care team members experiencing the second victim phenomenon related to an adverse patient or security event.
• Moral Distress Consults: Provides education and tools, discussions and support to manage moral distress.
• PeerRxMed Website: Resources from Dr. Mark Greenawald that help physicians and care team members thrive personally and professionally.
• Schwartz Rounds: Gives employees of all disciplines time to come together to openly and honestly discuss social and emotional issues that arise from caring for patients.
• Chaplaincy Services: Our team of chaplains are available for patient care as well as for spiritual guidance and support for all employees.
• Healing Arts Program: Supports the whole human experience of patients, visitors, caregivers and employees by integrating literary, performing and visual arts experiences into the healing process.
• Morningside Urban Farm: Learn how to grow fruits, vegetables and a healthier mind, body and spirit in this educational space that also benefits our local community. 
• Gardening and Nature Walks: Join our Community Health and Outreach team for gardening classes and nature walks across our region!
• Virgin Pulse: Provides wellness tools to help you develop and maintain healthy routines, like tracking daily exercise, sleep, mood and more.
• Fitness and Wellness Center Discounts: As a Carilion employee, you are eligible for discounts at a number of area fitness facilities. 

For more resources, check out the Well-being hub.

If you have questions or need more information, contact Kim Butterfield, well-being manager, at kmbutterfield@carilionclinic.org.