Monongalian, I enjoy caring for my friends and neighbors on
a daily basis. It is truly the people of this community who
make my job great.”
WVSOM’s Art Studio Helps Relieve
Medical School Stress and Reduce Burnout
Physicians are entrusted with the crucial responsibility of
caring for people, but as rewarding as that role can be, the
long hours and constant focus on helping others can lead to
stress, anxiety and burnout. For the past two years, the West
Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) has been
experimenting with an unexpected method of combating burnout
among its hard-working medical students: the use of open art
studios, where aspiring physicians can relax, socialize and let
their creativity flow. The school schedules sessions several times
a year during which students can take a break from their studies
and work in artistic mediums ranging from watercolor and
acrylic painting to resin art and collage. The school provides all
the necessary art supplies and offers instruction and guidance
as needed. WVSOM faculty and staff are invited to participate
as well.
Ginger Conley, M.A., LPC, a learning specialist and student
counselor in WVSOM’s Academic Support and Intervention
Resources department, created the art studio program in
2017 after attending a conference hosted by the American Art
Therapy Association. She says research is emerging that shows
creative work can have numerous benefits for people in health
professions.
“This is more than just a study break,” says Conley. “They’re
finding that engaging in creative arts can prevent or treat burn-
out and vicarious trauma in the medical profession. They’re
also finding that when students engage in or talk about art, it
enhances their empathy, and for the medical school population,
that’s an important thing.”
according to a survey conducted by My InnerView in 2019.
AMFM centers scored higher than national averages for resi-
dent, family and employee on overall satisfaction with facility
services and as a place of employment.
“This feedback has been critical to our teams in continuing
to provide quality care to our residents and our communities,”
says Vice President of Compliance Tammy Jo Painter. “We
are proud of each AMFM team that has continued providing
the type of care that earned them national awards and head-
lines last year.”
From the residents receiving care in each AMFM center, 15
out of AMFM’s 18 centers received an overall satisfaction score
of 100 percent. The national average score across the U.S. is 88
percent. AMFM centers averaged 97 percent overall satisfaction.
Braxton Health Care Center, Bridgeport Health Care Center
and the Cameron and Lincoln nursing and rehabilitation centers
received perfect scores from families who have a loved one at
an AMFM center. Cameron Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
is designated as a top performer for Family Quality of Life,
Quality of Care and Quality of Service, Braxton Health Care
Center is a top performer in Overall Satisfaction, and Lincoln
Nursing & Rehabilitation is a top performer in Recommen-
dation to Others.
From the employee perspective, AMFM centers score much
higher than the national average for employee satisfaction.
Nationally, 78 percent of respondents rated their centers as
excellent or good in terms of a location to work while 85 per-
cent of AMFM employees rated their center as an excellent or
good location to be employed.
C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S
Becky Harless
AMFM Nursing & Rehabilitation Centers Receive
High Customer and Employee Satisfaction Scores
American Medical Facilities Management (AMFM) had
another milestone year in providing quality care to customers
and creating a positive work environment for employees,
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