Marketplace Details
CalmDoc
An SMS based system to continuously monitor stress in physicians.
What is CalmDoc?
CalmDoc is a targeted intervention to evaluate levels of stress and identify residents or fellows in the anesthesia, surgery, and infectious disease departments who may be having some problems dealing with it.
Participants in the program receive 3 texts per week on a random day each week between Monday and Friday and at a random time between 9am and 4pm. All randomization is done on a per patient basis. 5 questions are asked to evaluate the individuals feelings in the moment. Participants receive a reminder message if they have not responded to the questions.
Stress in Healthcare Workers
There is a physician mental health epidemic, which has become more prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Among physicians:
- Depression rate is 20 to 30%, 2 to 3 times the general public
- Suicidal ideation is 6 times higher than the general public. 1 in 20 have some form of suicidal ideation
- Burnout rate pre COVID-19 was 45 to 50% and now roughly 80%
Burnout can effects a physicians ability to learn, can lead to memory deficits, poor concentration, less compassion and more errors. This leads to bad patient care, a decrease in patient satisfaction, a decrease in patient compliance and a delay in patient recovery.
Errors in medication by residents costs 4.5 million a year in a 700 bed hospital. Turnover in staff alone cost 4.6 billion dollars annually.
Why CalmDoc?
CalmDoc allows administration to take the burnout pulse of their departments and institutions in order to follow up and take necessary steps to provide relief and help.
The Team
Dr. Byron Fergerson is a Clinical Professor in the UCSD Department of Anesthesiology specializing in Cardiothoracic Anesthesia and Echocardiography. He’s been studying, lecturing, and promoting physician wellness for almost a decade. He has served as the Wellness Director for the Anesthesiology department and is currently Vice-Chair of Faculty Wellness and Engagement. Dr. Fergerson is also Chair of the UCSD Wellness Director Committee and is active in wellness initiative development throughout UCSD. Dr. Fergerson has received training in peer support communication, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Compassion Cultivation, and advanced training in Mindfulness facilitation. He has completed the UC Davis/Irvine Clinician Health and Well-Being Fellowship the Stanford Physician Well-Being Course both of which aim to teach how to identify and treat psychosocial problems; implement preventative health measures; and engage, treat, and monitor impaired physicians.