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September Is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

harnessg — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 19:36:57 +0000

September Is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

harnessg Thu, 09/15/2022 - 14:36 RSS:

Work/LIfe Connections

National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month was created to educate the public on how to identify those struggling, how to talk about suicide, and provide community resources.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide is among the top 9 leading causes of death for people ages 10-64 and the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-14 and 25-34. As you can see, suicide affects everyone, no matter their age. So, let's take a look at some action steps you can take to prevent this from happening to you or your loved ones.

Learn more about the warning signs and risk factors from the Suicide Prevention Resource Center.
Read the Work/Life Connections-EAP article, What Do I Say When Someone is Talking about Suicide?
Call 988, the new Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, if you or someone you know is in crisis. Similar to 911 for medical emergencies, the new 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers 24/7 call and text with trained crisis counselors. Individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts, substance use, a mental health crisis, or emotional distress are encouraged to call as well as loved ones who know someone in need of support. You can also use the Lifeline Chat. Services are free and confidential.

Having thoughts of harming oneself does not mean that someone is weak, but it does mean that someone is struggling. If you need mental health support, call 615-936-1327 to schedule a confidential appointment with one of our EAP Counselors.

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News, News - WLC

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Breakfast on the Go

harnessg — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 13:10:39 +0000

Breakfast on the Go

Health Plus

harnessg Thu, 09/15/2022 - 08:10 RSS:

Health Plus

Breakfast on the Go will return in October 2023!

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VUMC, News - HP, News

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The New 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

harnessg — Thu, 04 Aug 2022 17:48:21 +0000

The New 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Work/Life Connections

harnessg Thu, 08/04/2022 - 12:48 RSS:

Work/LIfe Connections

The last few years has taken a toll on all of us. We experienced feelings of loneliness, isolation, depression, anxiety, and grief from lives lost. This year, many have been feeling stressed and overwhelmed with personal finances and rising prices.

Unfortunately for too many, these emotions lead to thoughts of suicide. To help individuals receive help faster the National Suicide Lifeline launched a new 3-digit crisis line number.

Similar to 911 for medical emergencies, the new 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers 24/7 call and text with trained crisis counselors. Individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts, substance use, a mental health crisis, or emotional distress are encouraged to call as well as loved ones who know someone in need of support. You can also use the Lifeline Chat. Services are free and confidential.

If you need mental health support, call 615-936-1327 to schedule a confidential appointment with one of our EAP Counselors. Work/Life Connections-EAP is the program of Faculty and Staff Health and Wellness focused on elevating your psychological resilience.

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Counseling, Crisis, Mental Health, Resilience, VUMC, News, News - WLC

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Mitigating Pandemic Burnout

harnessg — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 20:19:53 +0000

Mitigating Pandemic Burnout

Work/Life Connections, Resource Articles

harnessg Tue, 02/01/2022 - 14:19 RSS:

Work/LIfe Connections

We've all been weathering the impact of a two-year pandemic that continues to affect our lives and requires constant adaptations. Childcare, eldercare, social connections, travel, conferences, and our general way of life has changed. Even the most resilient individuals working in healthcare and education are struggling with some level of burnout. The intensity of caring for patients during a pandemic, the demands often exceeding the staffing resources, constant changes, the unexpected deaths related to COVID, and level of emotional exhaustion is real. Although the professional dedication, commitment, and ability to perform is high, there is a fatigue that we all feel.

According to Christina Maslach and Michael P. Leiter in Reversing Burnout, mitigating or reversing the impact of burnout and "rekindling" our passion for our work requires both a personal and systematic strategy. We must identify workplace frustrations and on a personal level, implement strategies for intentional self-care.

Here are 4 tips to keep in mind as we continue down this path:

Engage in conversations with coworkers. Acknowledging the emotional impact and normalizing discussions about mental health and well-being are essential to help us get through this period.
Learn about resources when colleagues are struggling. While some are struggling with depression, grief, and anxiety, others are languishing.
Look for the good. We have evidenced great resilience in our adaptations and hopefully, we can experience posttraumatic growth from this journey.
Participate in activities that help you refresh. Walking, structured exercise, listening to music, sports, connecting with others, mindfulness, or whatever helps you recharge and re-energize.

"Beating burnout is not just a matter of reducing the number of negatives," notes Maslach and Lietner. "Instead, it is often more useful to think about increasing the number of positives, and of building the opposite of burnout, engagement. When burnout is counteracted with engagement, exhaustion is replaced with enthusiasm, bitterness with compassion, and anxiety with efficacy."

The Workgroup Dynamics services of Work/Life Connections-EAP can assist your department or workgroup with facilitating discussions, acknowledging the emotional impact, encouraging self-care, learning strategies for coping, & educating Vanderbilt employees about enhancing their well-being as well as mitigating the impact of burnout. Call 615-936-1327 to consult about an intervention.

Reference: Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. P. (2005). Reversing Burnout. Stanford Social Innovation Review, 3(4), 43–49. https://doi.org/10.48558/E3F1-ZB95

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Counseling, Consultations, Mental Health, News - WLC, News, Resilience, VUMC

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6 Tips for Managing Omicron Anxiety

mcgownpw — Thu, 30 Dec 2021 18:18:37 +0000

6 Tips for Managing Omicron Anxiety

Work/Life Connections

mcgownpw Thu, 12/30/2021 - 12:18 RSS:

Just when we began to take a breath from the Delta surge, the Omicron variant permeates the news. While some seem to go on about their lives without significant worry, others find themselves with renewed anxieties about infections. Uncertainty and fear, once again, can hijack our amygdala, which is the part of our brain that signals potential danger. This can cause us to be on high alert.

To ease anxiety brought on by the most recent COVID-19 surge, here are 6 tips to help you manage stress:

Protect yourself utilizing the best methods we know such as vaccinations, boosters, masking, social distancing, and washing your hands. Be vigilant.
Identify a solid scientific based information source. If you are exposed or develop symptoms of concern, consult a trusted source for directions.
Limit your exposure to media designed to trigger your alarm and activate your senses.
Calm your thoughts. Intentionally unplug and refocus. Movement, Music, Meditation, Mindfulness, or Mindless activities can be useful to provide a break from daily stress.
Connect with people, pets, or purpose. Each can be ways of refocusing your energy on meaningful pursuits.
Engage in the self-care techniques that have gotten you through the earlier waves of the pandemic

If you are having difficulty coping with the stressors, consider calling Work/Life Connections-EAP at 615-936-1327 for a confidential appointment with one of our EAP Counselors.

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VUMC, Stress, Resilience, News - WLC

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Depression Check-Up During Pandemic Days

harnessg — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 19:17:31 +0000

Depression Check-Up During Pandemic Days

Work/Life Connections

harnessg Wed, 10/06/2021 - 14:17 RSS:

Work/LIfe Connections

October is Depression Awareness Month. Now more than ever, it is important to take stock of your mood and mental health. In a September 2020 study published in JAMA Network Open, the prevalence of depression symptoms in the US increased more than 3-fold during the COVID-19 pandemic, from 8.5% before COVID-19 to 27.8% during COVID-19. Singles are more likely to experience depression than those in a coupled relationship; women more than men; and those who experienced traumatic events during this time such as economic impacts, job losses, illness, or death of loved ones.

In the past couple of years, there have been so many environmental factors that have not only exacerbated anxiety and uncertainty, but have also altered our lives such that activities that used to give use joy and counteract depression have been unavailable. "Our usual ways of connecting socially, exercising, vacationing, and recharging have been altered during the pandemic," notes Stephanie Dean, LPC, CEAP, Assistant Manager, Work/Life Connections-EAP, "Just about everyone has been impacted emotionally by COVID-19 in ways that have negative effects on our mental health. If you are experiencing the following symptoms, you may wish to seek professional assistance."

Mood or feelings of prolonged sadness
Sleep or appetite problems; fatigue / loss of energy
Loss of interest in formerly pleasurable activities
Irritability or increased anger
Cognitive changes (decreased concentration or memory)
Increased anxiety that influences your ability to function
Generally feeling poorly/ somatic problems

Depression is a treatable illness that can be brought on by different factors. Evidence-based treatments are available, especially with the recent access through telemedicine. Your physician or a therapist can assess your needs and suggest a course of treatment. If you start to think about suicide, that's a sign to seek help immediately.

Additional information:

Work/Life Connections-EAP 615-936-1327
The Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital 615-327-7000
Crisis Intervention Center 615-244-7444
Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text HOME to 741741
Complete the Depression Self-Assessment.

Keywords: Depression, Sadness, Suicide, Crisis

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VUMC, Resilience, News - WLC, Mental Health, Counseling

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month

harnessg — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 20:50:08 +0000

May is Mental Health Awareness Month harnessg Fri, 04/30/2021 - 15:50 RSS:

Work/LIfe Connections

The past year has been hard on our mental health. Social isolation, anxiety, depression, grief, substance abuse, domestic violence, and suicidal ideation have escalated. For healthcare workers, university faculty and staff, front line essential workers, and all those who interact with others, there has been the fear of infection and of unknowingly bringing COVID home to one's family or household. Even a year after the first cases in Tennessee, the influence of this virus impacts all aspects of well-being: physically, emotionally, occupationally, economically, socially, spiritually, and culturally.

The good news is that there is greater awareness that we all need to be incorporating regular self-care into our lives for our own mental well-being. Here are six recommendations for continued mental fitness.

"You must Nourish to Flourish": Set daily attainable goals for well-being.
Find a minimum of 10 minutes each day to devote to your resilience; more is even better
Discover the right match of self-care activities for you and do them regularly. Chose activities that give you a break from the constant stress. Try various exercise routines, walking the dog, meditation, yoga, mindfulness, prayer, gardening, connections with others, music, therapy, improved nutrition, reading, sleep, or other forms of restoration.
Consider getting the COVID -19 vaccination when the opportunity presents itself. While won't allow us to stop masking or social distancing, it could offer some peace of mind. It is one step closer to returning to normalcy.
Connect with friends and family. Having a support network of friends and family can help people get through periods of trauma and improve our ability to respond to stress
Get quality sleep to rechange physically and mentally.

Assess your own mental health. Work/Life Connections-EAP has several on-line anonymous screening tools available for Vanderbilt faculty, staff, and family members by signing into your Health and Wellness Portal or visiting our online screening tools.

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News, News - WLC, VUMC

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Rebuilding Your Emotional Reserves!

harnessg — Wed, 23 Dec 2020 16:12:04 +0000

Rebuilding Your Emotional Reserves!

Work/Life Connections

harnessg Wed, 12/23/2020 - 10:12 RSS:

Work/Life Connections

The Coronavirus pandemic has been traumatizing and 2020 has been an exhausting year. As a result, many have been living much of the time in "survival mode." Anxiety, fear, and trauma interrupt our ability to readily access our frontal cortex. This is the part of our brain that controls our cognitive skills including problem solving, memory, and emotional expression. It serves as the brain's "dispatch center." When functioning in survival mode, it is harder to focus, prioritize, and effectively manage conflict. This can impact an individual's productivity. People handle the resulting emotional stress differently depending upon their circumstances, available coping resources, and histories.

Sona Matwin PhD, Consulting Clinical Psychologist, Work/Life Connections-EAP, suggests to "Practice daily self-care. During this time of heightened stress, this is not optional. You can find up to 10 minutes out of your day to so something that helps you recharge and restore. Be a role model for others by sharing what you do. We all need some extra motivation, especially now."

Here are some ways to help rebuild emotional reserves:

Turn off the news and choose to snooze: Take a periodic vacation from negative input and get an extra hour of sleep! Both can do wonders.
Stick to your routines: Maintain or create healthy routines (like regular bed and wake times). This will improve your overall sense of well-being. Healthy sleep, diet, and regular hydration lead to better stress management.
Give yourself compassion: All of us are learning how to live during a pandemic. Taking the view of a beginner can allow for more latitude and forgiveness. Compassion can be a powerful tool and stimulates parts of the brain that can enhance attention, as well as increase openness to new things.
Get up and get outside: Being active can boost your feel-good endorphins, reduce stress, benefit your overall health, and help improve sleep. Getting your daily dose of sunshine benefits both your mood and cognitive health. While 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily is recommended, you can break those down into more manageable intervals if time is the obstacle. Even one minute is better than none!
Access current information: Having accurate information helps us make decisions. Make sure you understand how to limit your risks and how to maximize your well-being. With vaccines on the horizon, 2021 looks to be a hopeful year!
Connect with others: Scientific evidence strongly suggests that social connections are essential to feeling satisfied with your life. Biologically, social ties stimulate the release of oxytocin, a hormone linked with the reduction of fear and anxiety, in part, by limiting the cortisol response to stress. Use the phone, text, or email to practice connection while social distancing!
One breath at a time: Try to focus on the now if you find yourself stressed or feeling overwhelmed! Instead of tackling one day at a time, try one hour, one minute, or even one breath. Being present will help us shift out of the survival mode, improve concentration, and improve our moods.

If you find yourself becoming clinically depressed or struggling with how to cope, contact Work/Life Connections-EAP to set up a confidential appointment with one of our EAP Counselors by calling 615-936-1327.

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VUMC, News, News - WLC

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Are You Really Doing OK?

harnessg — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 19:10:13 +0000

Are You Really Doing OK? harnessg Fri, 12/04/2020 - 13:10 RSS:

Work/Life Connections

We often find ourselves walking by someone and casually say, "How are you doing?" and we fully expect that they will answer, "Fine," and we will both continue walking. Somehow, these days seem different. The responses are different. Sometimes, our colleagues hesitate to give their usual comebacks like, "if I were any better, I would be twins" or, "way better than I deserve." Instead, they now just say, "okay." It may cause you to pause, and if it doesn't, maybe it should make you pause. That's not like them. Perhaps we are being more authentic because these are stressful times; or perhaps someone is struggling in silence. You grapple to find some words to say back, but instead we go on walking our separate ways.

There are no wrong things to say. It depends on the place and time, but here are some thoughts of things to encourage conversation:

"How are you really doing? It has been a heck of a week."
That didn't sound very convincing, what's up?
What are you doing to cope with all that is going on?
The work we do is hard. I'm available if you want to just talk and process it with a friendly ear.
Well, I know I'm feeling it, too. It would be nice to chat. Can we connect later today? I'll contact you.

When you do offer to connect, then follow through. It can be a text, a phone call, a hand written note, or a virtual encounter. As we are masked and physically distanced, we are also feeling social isolation. We are all stressed in ways that we weren't a year ago. Strong and capable people may be struggling with all that is on their plates.

It may also be helpful to remember that Vanderbilt's Work/Life Connections - Employee Assistance Program is a no-cost, confidential benefit for all VUMC employees, faculty, physicians, and their spouses. Call 615-936-1327 if you would like to schedule an appointment.

This is a complex time. There is no clear one-size-fits-all coping roadmap. Because you care, don't hesitate to ask if your colleague is really "okay." These days we all need encouragement and genuine connection with others.

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VUMC, News, News - WLC

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Coping with Recent Violent Events

harnessg — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 17:56:38 +0000

Coping with Recent Violent Events harnessg Fri, 12/04/2020 - 11:56 RSS:

Work/Life Connections

Social media and news coverage of shootings, bombings, protests, sexual assaults, and other events has been graphic and intense. In general, experiencing violence can result in serious psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While people may not develop a psychological disorder after hearing first-hand accounts or viewing graphic, real-time images of these events, people do experience strong emotions, such as fear, sadness, grief, and anger.

The more similar one is to the person or people experiencing an event, the more likely it is that the person indirectly-involved will develop a strong reaction. When crimes are reported in news coverage or shared through the immediacy of social media, many groups of people see someone with whom they identify being accused of criminal behavior, perpetrating a crime, or experiencing a violent act. The more a person is reminded of years of discrimination, bias, or prejudice, the more likely it is that there will be significant stress or distress. "That could be me." turns into "That is me!"

Work/Life Connections-EAP has suggestions for ways to cope with the effects of hearing about and viewing recent violent events. Visit our resource library and read the article, "Psychological Effects of Recent Violent Events" by WLC-EAP's clinical psychologist, Dr. Chad Buck. In addition to information how people may respond, there are specific recommendations for ways to cope with a wide range of reactions.

If you need more information or support, please call (615) 936-1327 and schedule an appointment for an assessment with one of our licensed clinicians<.

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VUMC, News - WLC

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Mental Health and the Holidays

harnessg — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 21:17:47 +0000

Mental Health and the Holidays

Work/Life Connections

harnessg Mon, 11/30/2020 - 15:17 RSS:

Work/Life Connections

The Winter Holidays are a time of anticipation and meaning for many. They remind us of our family traditions, and an array of expectations. This year, we have an unwelcomed visitor, COVID-19. It has influenced our lives for the past nine months and will also change our holiday celebrations.

For those who suffer from clinical depression or who grieve for loved ones lost, these holidays can magnify the impact of isolation experienced during the pandemic. Here are five coping strategies for navigating this holiday season:

Acknowledge your feelings: Despite expectations, you don't have to feel "merry and bright." If you are depressed, anxious, stressed, or grieving, be authentic; let people you care about know how you are really feeling.
Connect with those who give you support: Research shows that social support can help ward off the effects of stress on depression, anxiety, and other health problems. Friends, family, and professionals provide different forms of emotional support. If there are stressful topics, like politics or the coronavirus, ask them to limit talking about them when you need a break. There are also some practical support resources that can help (for example, United Way 211).
Be realistic this year: We are in the middle of a global pandemic. Your holiday plans may look different this year, but you can find ways to celebrate the season. The holidays don't have to be just like last year or the way they are portrayed on the Hallmark Channel. Remember, the spirit is about sharing and caring.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle: Don't forget the importance of daily exercise, sufficient sleep, a nutritious diet, managing stress, limiting alcohol, and taking in the good. Appreciate the little things and express gratitude to others.
Self-Care is not optional: It is necessary! We need a break from constant stress. Take at least 10 minutes every day to engage in pleasurable activity that gives you a diversion from your worries. Set attainable well-being goals. This might be exercise, meditation, a gratitude journal, prayer, gardening, cooking, connecting with others, music, leisure reading, journaling, sleep, or any activity that restores you.
Accept help if you need it: Despite your best efforts, you may find yourself feeling depressed, irritable, anxious, feeling hopeless, and/or unable to face the day. If these feelings persist, talk to your doctor, a mental health professional, a support group, or a call center. Put the suicide hotline phone number (800-273-8255) and Middle Tennessee Crisis Call Center (615-244-7444) in your phone contacts and post them on your refrigerator.

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News - WLC, VUMC

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I'll Be Zooming for the Holidays

harnessg — Mon, 02 Nov 2020 19:20:11 +0000

I'll Be Zooming for the Holidays

Work/Life Connections

harnessg Mon, 11/02/2020 - 13:20 RSS:

Work/Life Connections

The Holiday season is usually a time for workplace celebrations, families gathering with hugs and food, and friends connecting at parties. Sadly, this year will be different due to the current pandemic. There is anxiety and grief about traveling and gathering while keeping socially distanced. Since some family members are at high-risk, many people are deciding not to get together in-person this year.

Here are some ideas on how you and yours can enjoy a virtually holiday:

Start planning now. Choose the technology you will use, like Facetime, MS Teams, Zoom, Skype, Cellphone, or Landline.
Do some practice runs. If you have children, they may be well versed in this technology as they have probably been attending school this way.
Plan the meal so that all family members have the same menu. Of course, some are better cooks than others. Share family recipes that are part of your holiday traditions.
Kids can create table decorations and mail them to relatives' homes so that their spirits are present at the table.
Create an agenda to get some conversation going.
Agree upon a time to get on a "call" when we will all sit down to dinner and set up. Provide instructions on how to use your selected program; the family prayer- who leads it, include the children.
Agree upon topics of conversation that are taboo – politics, election results, money, or other topics that create family conflict.
Make the most of your virtual call. Remember, it may the quality of the time together not the quantity of time.
Go around the table and ask each member to talk about one thing for which they are grateful.
Take some photos of your table or screenshots of the family as you go and share them with the family later.

The holidays this year will be challenging, but with thoughtfulness and planning, we can make it memorable and filled with gratitude.

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VUMC

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Online Scheduling Now Available for All OHC Locations

harnessg — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 16:32:44 +0000

Online Scheduling Now Available for All OHC Locations

Occupational Health Clinic

harnessg Thu, 07/18/2019 - 11:32 RSS:

Occupational Health Clinic

Online Appointment Scheduling Temporarily Unavailable

Online scheduling of appointments with Occupational Health Clinic is temporarily unavailable. Please call 615-936-0955 if you need to schedule an appointment.

For the convenience and productivity of Vanderbilt faculty and staff, the Occupational Health Clinic (OHC), which includes OHC's Faculty/Staff Express Care, now offers employees the ability to go online to schedule same-day and next-day sick visit appointments. Employees still have the ability to walk in to OHC for a sick visit, but when time is of the essence, scheduling a sick visit appointment can be done by calling the clinic at 615-936-0955 or utilizing the new online scheduling feature!

Conditions that would qualify as a sick visit include cold, flu, allergies, ear infections, and other similar minor illnesses. Immunizations for compliance requirements do not require an appointment.

From any computer or mobile device, employees have two options available to schedule a same-day or next-day sick visit online with OHC:

All Vanderbilt employees can use the Faculty/Staff Health & Wellness Information Portal (HWIP). Once you log in using your VUNetID and password, click "Schedule Appointment" to get started. For an optimal scheduling experience, use a Chrome, Safari, or Firefox web browser when using HWIP.
For Vanderbilt employees who have both a My Health at Vanderbilt account and a Vanderbilt health insurance plan, you can also use the My Health at Vanderbilt patient portal to schedule with OHC. Once you log in, click "Schedule an Appointment" to get started.

Employees can schedule sick visit appointments at either of the following locations:

Occupational Health Clinic located at Medical Arts Building, Suite 640.
OHC Faculty/Staff Express Care located at Medical Arts Building, Suite 112. The entrance to this clinic is on the outside of the building, and your Vanderbilt ID badge is needed to enter.

Occupational Health does not charge employees for seeing the providers in clinic. However, any external services (such as lab tests or X-rays) that are ordered as part of your sick visit will be charged to your insurance.

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News, VU, News - OHC, VUMC

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Annual TB Testing for Employees No Longer Required

harnessg — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 14:19:31 +0000

Annual TB Testing for Employees No Longer Required harnessg Mon, 07/08/2019 - 09:19 RSS:

Occupational Health Clinic

Based on new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, employees no longer need annual TB testing. The CDC's new guidelines no longer recommend routine annual TB testing for health care workers, and the "Tuberculin (TB) Skin Testing: for Health Care Personnel" policy has been updated to reflect the CDC's recommendations. The CDC made this new recommendation as a result of efforts that showed that the U.S. in general is low risk for TB infection, and healthcare workers are not developing TB infection at a rate that is different than the general population. Therefore, health care workers do not appear to be at higher risk than the general population and thus the need for routine annual testing is no longer justified.

Employees will continue to require TB screening on hire (to identify and encourage treatment of existing TB infection) and after a documented exposure (to identify new TB infection as a result of the exposure). Infection Prevention and Occupational Health continue to track exposure to cases of infectious tuberculosis, and Occupational Health will continue to contact any employee who needs TB testing related to an exposure.

Please note: a small subset of employees may still require regular TB testing secondary to specific research or animal care activities that they perform, and these individuals will be notified if that is the case.

Once again, routine annual TB testing is no longer required; therefore individuals will no longer receive notifications regarding annual testing nor will it be a compliance requirement to have annual testing done.

Please do not hesitate to contact the Occupational Health Clinic at occupational.health.clinic@vanderbilt.edu or 615-936-0955 with any questions you may have.

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News, VUMC

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Issue 392, 2019 April/May (Medical Center Edition)

harnessg — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 15:00:13 +0000

Issue 392, 2019 April/May (Medical Center Edition)

Health & Wellness Connection Newsletter, Resource Articles, Health and Wellness

harnessg Mon, 04/08/2019 - 10:00 RSS:

Health & Wellness

This issue (Medical Center Edition) includes:

May is Mental Health Month
Passion at Work with Lori Harris, BSN, RN-BC
Care Gap Alerts with Erin Neal, PharmD, MMHC
Are You Really Allergic to Penicillin?
Fuel Your Fitness
Your Care.com Benefit

Issue 392, 2019 April/May (Medical Center Edition)

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VUMC, Connection Newsletter

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Issue 391, 2019 February/March (Medical Center Edition)

mcgownpw — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 14:45:44 +0000

Issue 391, 2019 February/March (Medical Center Edition)

Health and Wellness, Resource Articles, Health & Wellness Connection Newsletter

mcgownpw Thu, 01/31/2019 - 08:45 RSS:

Health & Wellness

This issue (Medical Center Edition) includes:

Care Gap Alerts with Dan Patel, MD
Blood Pressure – Make Control Your Goal!
Passion at Work with Richard S. Miller, MD, FACS
Heart Health – Loving Your Heart
A Valentine’s Resolution: Listening Whole-Heartedly
Eat to Beat Stress
Do Your Retirement Savings Measure Up?

Issue 391, 2019 February/March (Medical Center Edition)

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Connection Newsletter, VUMC

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Support After Challenging Outcomes

mcgownpw — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 15:31:17 +0000

Support After Challenging Outcomes

Resource Articles, Work/Life Connections, Facing Life's Challenges

mcgownpw Thu, 01/10/2019 - 09:31 RSS:

Work/Life Connections

Manage the
Event

Adverse Events

Elevate Psychological
Resilience

Critical Incident
Stress Management

Connect with
Peers

Peer Support

When there are challenging cases that impact caregiver psychological well-being, Vanderbilt offers a variety of support services for faculty and staff.

Contact the organizational resources that support you after an Adverse Clinical Event. Our risk management advocacy team can guide you through the process.
Access Critical Incident Psychological Support when there has been an incident that impacts clinicians, teams, and staff.
Learn about Peer Assistance Programs for your work area.

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VUMC, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Critical Incident Stress, Mental Health, Prevention, Violence, Resilience, Stress

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Peer Support Resources at VUMC

mcgownpw — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 15:26:42 +0000

Peer Support Resources at VUMC

Resource Articles, Work/Life Connections, Facing Life's Challenges

mcgownpw Thu, 01/10/2019 - 09:26 RSS:

Work/Life Connections

Peer Support Programs

When a colleague is impacted by an unanticipated outcome or challenging case, Peer Support Teams within a workgroup proactively offer emotional support to affected peers. Several Teams have undergone specialized training equipping them to identify early signs of stress and burnout and how to provide guidance or referral to resources, as required.

General Surgery Wellbeing Response Team-Resilience Rapid Response Team (RT3): This Team is committed to being approachable and available to the residents and faculty of the Department of Surgery during ordinary and extraordinary times of stress.

Perioperative Services PULSE PAUSE Peer Support Team: Working to ensure that all clinicians & team in the surgical areas receive the appropriate support following a critical patient incident.

Safe Faculty Peer Support Medicine Team: Residents can seek out Safe Faculty when there is a concern in their career that shakes confidence and they have a need for affirmation or to process their reactions.

Behavioral Health Clinical Practice Group: The Psychiatric Hospital at Vanderbilt has a process group for clinicians to address the emotional impact of treating challenging patients.

Peer Support Toolkit: Provides information on existing peer support programs across the medical center, as well as an 8-step guide to creating your own peer support program within your work unit. Available training options at VUMC are included.

The PULSE Huddle

A form of psychological first aid, the PULSE Huddle is a brief ritual utilized following a death to help a team gain some closure, pay their respect to the patient, and honor the efforts of the health care team.

The objective is to "take your emotional pulse" in a brief 3-5 minute huddle by acknowledging difficult events in real-time. The PULSE Huddle can be facilitated by leaders or willing peers at the conslusion of an event before the team disperses onto their next patient situation.

If an event has a lingering signficant impact, then a formal EAP-facilitated Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) debriefing may be scheduled with 48-72 hours of the event.

Pulse Huddle pocket cards can be requested through Work/Life Connections-EAP at 615-936-1327.

Suggested PULSE Huddle Process:

Immediately following the death or difficult patient event:

PAUSE: Gather the team and reflect on this significant event.
UNDERSTAND: What just happened? Review the facts in the case. What was done? What was the outcome?
LEARN: What went well and what didn't?
STRESS impact: What was the hardest part for you (emotionally); and for the team?
ENCOURAGE self-care: What do you need to do to take care of yourself (coping interventions to avoid compassion fatigue/burnout)?

Honoring the Person and the Loss:

Let's take a moment just to pause and honor _______________.

They were someone who loved and was loved.

They were someone's friend and family member.

In our own way, and in silence, let us stand and take a moment to honor this life and all the valiant efforts that were made on their behalf.

As we walk away from this moment, may we also remember to extend compassionate care to ourselves as we prepare our hearts to welcome another into our care.

Tags

VUMC, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Critical Incident Stress, Prevention, Resilience, Stress

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Support following An Adverse Event at VUMC

mcgownpw — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 15:23:40 +0000

Support following An Adverse Event at VUMC

Resource Articles, Work/Life Connections, Facing Life's Challenges

mcgownpw Thu, 01/10/2019 - 09:23 RSS:

Work/Life Connections

Adverse Event/Unexpected Outcome Support - When there has been an adverse patient care event:

Contact Risk Management at 615-936-0660 VUMC or contact through the operator. They will assess, advise, and advocate throughout the process.
Call Work/Life Connections-EAP Office 615-936-1327 to arrange psychological support for teams and individuals providing an opportunity to process the emotional impact of an event.
Utilize Peer Support in work areas where there are trained teams.

Tags

VUMC, Mental Health, Critical Incident Stress, Prevention, Violence, Stress

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Understanding Heart Disease in Women

mcgownpw — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 06:00:00 +0000

Understanding Heart Disease in Women

Wellcasts - Occupational Health Clinic, Wellcasts, Occupational Health Clinic

mcgownpw Fri, 01/04/2019 - 00:00 RSS:

Occupational Health Clinic

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In this episode we talk to Dr. Sharmin Basher, Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and physician at the Vanderbilt Women's Heart Program, about important differences in heart disease in women as compared to men.

Read more information on the Vanderbilt Women's Heart Program.

Begin Transcript

Welcome to this edition of the Vanderbilt Health and Wellness wellcast. I'm Shaina Farfel with Occupational Health. Today, we are speaking with Dr. Sharmin Basher, Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine and physician at the Vanderbilt Women's Heart Program. Hi, Dr. Basher. Thanks so much for joining us today.

Dr. Sharmin Basher: Hello. Thank you. I'm happy to be here.

Shaina Farfel: Many of us already know heart disease is a leading cause of illness and death in this country. We hear about heart disease in the context of men a lot, and today, I wanted to specifically focus on heart disease and what it looks like in woman, as there can be some important differences that people should be aware of. How common is heart disease in women?

Dr. Sharmin Basher: Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women. In fact, it contributes to one in three deaths for women a year, and if you look at the American Heart Association statistics, that is approximately one death every minute for women. The Centers for Disease Control actually estimate that 44 million women in the United States are affected by cardiovascular disease and actually 90% of women have one or more risk factors that develop cardiovascular disease down the line.

Shaina Farfel: Do signs and symptoms of heart disease differ in women as compared to men?

Dr. Sharmin Basher: Actually, that is true. The most common symptom that most people are aware of when they think of a heart attack is centrally-located pain in the chest, crushing chest discomfort, maybe radiation down the left arm, but sometimes they symptoms are not particularly common in women. They can actually be a little bit more subtle. These symptoms may not even be the most prominent symptom that they present with. And sometimes, women can have symptoms that are not even associated with chest pain. For example, they could have more GI-related symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, or some abdominal discomfort. They could also experience some significant fatigue or generalized malaise that is unusual for them, and also sweating, shortness of breath, pain going down both arms, and they can also experience jaw pain and maybe shoulder or upper back pain as well. These symptoms typically are not quite as significant as the crushing, sort of "Hollywood heart attack" that most people are aware of. They can be more subtle, and because of this, women can tend to downplay their symptoms. As well, the diagnosis for, you know, cardiovascular disease may not be quite as easily picked up when they are initially seen. In fact, there is data that shows that women tend to show up in emergency rooms for care after a significant amount of heart damage has already occurred because of the subtlety of these symptoms, so it is really important to be aware of these symptoms if they come along. And actually, fewer women than men survive their first heart attack, which is really noteworthy. Eighty percent of cardiovascular disease can be prevented by lifestyle changes and education.

Shaina Farfel: Do you mind telling us about some risk factors for developing heart disease in women?

Dr. Sharmin Basher: Absolutely. These are really important because these are very preventable in many cases. So, diabetes is a major risk factor because it accelerates the degeneration of good vascular tone, which can accelerate heart disease. Also, smoking is a major risk factor as well for similar causes. Having a high LDL cholesterol is a major risk factor. Also, having a sedentary lifestyle where you are not exercising quite so much - that can also promote heart disease. Family history is also really important. So, if you have a first-degree relative, such as parents or siblings, that have already had heart disease at an early age, that is a significant risk factor that is not modifiable and is worth noting. Also, women who are in menopause, because of the low estrogen levels, can also promote the development of heart disease. Certain chemotherapeutic drugs can also affect cardiovascular decompensation as well as radiation exposure to the chest. Radiation can actually accelerate vascular disease. Also, patients who have developed high blood pressure or diabetes in pregnancy, so, gestational hypertension and gestational diabetes can actually increase the woman's long-term risk of developing those two disorders, even after delivering the child, and those two risk factors, in and of themselves, can also increase your risk of heart disease as well. And lastly, women who have chronic inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, or lupus, because of the high level of inflammation, they also have a significantly-elevated risk of having heart disease.

Shaina Farfel: Is diagnosis and/or treatment of heart disease different in women than it is in men?

Dr. Sharmin Basher: Typically, the diagnosis and treatment tend to be similar. So, the treatment can span from something as noninvasive as medication adjustments to as invasive as a bypass surgery, if needed. In a typical sense, if someone presents with a heart attack due to a plaque rupture within the arteries, the treatment includes stenting the vessel or even angioplasty, and that applies to both men and women. I should mention that there is a disorder that particularly relates to women called microvascular coronary dysfunction, where they present with the symptoms that are very typical for cardiovascular disease, or even the symptoms we talked about earlier that are more subtle, and after some amount of cardiovascular diagnostic imaging or testing, they do not have any evidence of large-vessel coronary dysfunction. In fact, they can have smaller vessel or inner lining disease of the small coronary vessels that branch off of the larger vessels that are not easily visible on the traditional studies and it is definitely worth to keep this in mind for all practitioners that this might be something that could affect women.

Shaina Farfel: What are some preventative measures that women can take to help protect their heart?

Dr. Sharmin Basher: Definitely, consuming a healthy diet is important, so, a low-saturated fat, high-fiber diet is very important, being very active, so maintaining a good, regular exercise regimen (the American Heart Association currently recommends 150 minutes of aerobic exercise for all healthy adults), and also maintaining a good healthy weight. So, going to the primary care doctor and checking your BMI is really important, and also in the same vein, having your blood pressure checked regularly. Having high blood pressure is a silent killer. Most people are not even aware that they have hypertension until they get screened. So, that is really important. Then, also, something that a general internist can also check for is a fasting lipid panel screening to look for elevation of LDL cholesterol, which can actually cause plaque

development at an early age, and also blood sugar checked to make sure that diabetes isn't playing a role. So, I think those are the important things, and also, lastly, I forget to mention - smoking. So, if you are smoking, stop smoking immediately, and do not start.

Shaina Farfel: And as we mentioned, you are a provider at the Vanderbilt Women's Heart Program. Can you tell us a little bit more about the program and how folks can access it if they are interested?

Dr. Sharmin Basher: Absolutely. So, here, at the Vanderbilt Women's Heart Program, we are located at the 100 Oaks complex, 719 Thompson Lane, and we provide a lot of consultative approach to our patients initially when they are being seen, and what we do is we do a more individualized risk assessment and then do a personalized plan to help modify risk factors and maybe even consider therapies, if needed, with medications. So, it is a really personalized approach to cardiovascular risk prevention. So, if any women are interested, or if men are interested about any women in their family, feel free to contact us. We are happy to see anyone if you have any questions or any concerns.

Shaina Farfel: Well, thank you so much for your time and for sharing this really valuable information for our listeners. We really appreciate it.

Dr. Sharmin Basher: No problem. Happy to help in any way that I can.

Shaina Farfel: Thank you.

Dr. Sharmin Basher: Thank you.

Shaina Farfel: Thanks for listening. If you have a story suggestion, please email it to us at health.wellness@vanderbilt.edu or you can use the "Contact Us" page on our website at www.vumc.org/health-wellness. 

Tags

Adult Care, Count On Your Heart, Exercise, Healthy Eating, Medical Care, Primary Care, Risk Reduction, Tobacco Cessation, VU, VUMC

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