RECIPE FOR JUNIOR doctor WELFARE
Ingredients:
1. Rest, including a good nights sleep ...
Poor sleep impairs ability to perform and impairs memory.
Medications are not the solution to help you sleep.
2. Exercise ...
The Better Health Channel suggests that "Physical activity ... can improve your health and reduce the risk of developing certain conditions or diseases including depression, anxiety, type 2 diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Click here for excercise support available for BHS staff
3. Diet ...
Make sure you eat during your shift - take a meal break
Minimise caffeine.
Eat well - click here for some dietary tips.
4. Your friends and family ...
Ask for help.
People who have a strong network of family and friends manage stress better.Your colleagues are also a great source of support.
5. Your mentor ...
Interns are offered to be matched with a mentor at the start of the year. Any other doctors requiring a mentor can contact Michelle Bodey (MEC) to have this arranged.
6. HMO Mentoring
Ballarat Health services have had a number of JMOs volunteer to help support junior as mentors. Review the list on BHS Share Point
7. Your GP ...
Many of our junior medical staff have moved to Ballarat. A number of local GPs are able to care for medical colleagues. Everyone needs a GP, and this includes doctors. To find a Ballarat GP who has nominated themself to see other doctors go to Medicare Local's doctors for doctors page
8. A psychologist ...
Seeking help from a trained professional is a good idea. Ballarat Health Services can arrange assistance through this clinic. Grampians Medicare Local has a directory of local psychologists.
9.Education-Medicine is more fun when you know what you are doing, or so they tell me...
We are constantly building our program and implementing innovative strategies to improve access to activities and provide appropriate resources prior to rotation. Download our free app to find out whats on!
We need your commitment to the program; if pre-reading is provided, read it. Do the tutorials. This program is for you.
10. Job Security...
JMO employment is now a very competitive enviroment. To give yourself the best chance at securing employment follow these tips and advice...
11. A work culture that is positive...
An article that may provoke some debate and curiosity about how senior staff can create a positive workplace is available here.
12. Positive feedback at work ...
Above and Beyond the Call of Duty: The Emergency Department is keen to continue with the positive feedback with the ABCD system that was such a success in 2013, reinforcing our culture and values in the ED. Please forward feedback via email to Jaycen/Phil, or via the dropbox in ED
13. Constructive criticism at work ...
The purpose of constructive criticism is to improve the outcome. In collaborative work, this kind of criticism is a valuable tool in raising and maintaining performance standards.
Click here for the rules of constructive criticism
14. Workplace policies that deter bullying....
At BHS we strongly support a work enviroment that provides equal employment opportunity and promotes professional conduct....
BHS intranet has a number of policies re staff welfare.
15. Help for the doctor in distress or impaired doctor ...
If you need help then speak to a person you trust locally, and external help is available via the Victorian Doctors Help Program. Link and numbers to the right of this page. The Medical Board is also relevant to help and protect doctors (and the community).