The Medical College of Wisconsin, Froedtert Health and Children’s Wisconsin Honored by AMA for Promoting Well-being and Reducing Burnout

Milwaukee, Oct. 23, 2024 – The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), Froedtert Health and Children’s Wisconsin have earned Silver level recognition from the American Medical Association (AMA) as a Joy in Medicine™ health organization.

The prestigious AMA distinction is granted to organizations that meet the rigorous criteria of the Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program and acknowledges the nation’s leaders in prioritizing evidence-based efforts to enhance clinical well-being and professional fulfillment. The honor is valid for two years.

“MCW, Froedtert Health, and Children’s Wisconsin are pleased to continue to increase our focus on well-being,” said Alicia Pilarski, DO, a well-being leader for the organizations. Together, we have implemented multiple programs and policies aimed to support clinicians beyond adverse events; established executive leaders devoted to well-being; and actively dismantled several administrative burdens that reduced value to care, impeded the work of clinicians, and wasted time and resources.”

MCW, Froedtert Health and Children’s Wisconsin continue a shared commitment to the importance of wellness and the well-being of the clinical care teams. On this journey of well-being, the organizations have implemented many initiatives to support clinician well-being, including a Wellness Collaborative Committee that represents faculty, staff and learners across MCW, Froedtert Health and Children’s Wisconsin; regular organizational communications about well-being; informing technology improvements to decrease electronic message burdens for clinicians; Froedtert & MCW health network Well-Being Fairs; Children’s Wisconsin Professional Health Committee (PHC) well-being grants that empower local initiatives to enhance well-being; expansion of peer support offerings across all three health organizations; formal commitment to the AMA Collaborative for Healing and Renewal in Medicine (CHARM) Charter on healthcare well-being; the availability of Wellness Counselors and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) at Children’s Wisconsin; and many more.

Since its inception in 2019, the AMA Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program has recognized more than 100 organizations across the country. In 2024, a total of 62 health systems nationwide earned recognition with documented efforts to reduce system-level drivers of work-related burnout and demonstrated competencies in commitment, assessment, leadership, efficiency of practice environment, teamwork, and support. These 2024 organizations join a strong cohort of currently recognized organizations from the 2023 program.

Learn more about the AMA Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program