United Health Foundation & American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation Partner to Promote Physician Well-Being & Reduce ...
October 06 2020 - 11:30AM
Business Wire
Three-year, $3 million grant will help AAFP
create a new program to improve physician wellness and deliver
higher quality care to patients
The United Health Foundation is teaming up with the American
Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Foundation through a $3
million, three-year grant to help the AAFP identify causes of
physician burnout and develop solutions to improve physician
wellness and, ultimately, deliver higher quality care to patients.
The three-year grant comes as the coronavirus pandemic compounds
pressures physicians face, and a nationwide primary care physician
shortage grows.
Primary care providers play a critical role in the health care
system. They provide direct patient care, and counsel patients on
the appropriate use of specialists and advanced treatment options.
Yet, more than half of family physicians report markers of poor
well-being, and burnout can negatively affect the quality of
patient care, according to AAFP research. In addition, more than
19% of Americans live in an area with a shortage of primary care
providers, with the shortfall projected to reach between 20,000 and
55,000 over the next decade.
“The need to improve physician wellness is critical, especially
as COVID-19 has presented health care providers with a new set of
challenges and additional stressors,” said Dr. Ken Cohen, senior
medical director at Optum Care, a UnitedHealth Group company, as
well as a practicing internist. “By supporting the AAFP and its
innovative new program, we are acting on our long-standing
commitment to improving physician well-being and primary care.”
The United Health Foundation grant will help the AAFP create a
certificate program and curriculum that will identify causes and
solutions for improving physician well-being, including operational
improvements and efficiencies and change management tactics. The
program will train 200 family physicians to lead change for
improved clinician well-being in their practices, including the
development of a change management plan for the participant’s
organization. Upon completion, the AAFP will support physician
participants as they create and implement an applied project that
creates change at the organizational level.
The physician wellness training program will begin in January
2021. The AAFP is accepting applications currently, with additional
information available on its website.
“Our goal with this program is to foster a movement in family
medicine that changes the culture, policies and systems in health
care to better support clinician well-being, and improve our
understanding of how to lead change in health care organizations to
improve clinician wellness,” said Dr. Catherine Florio Pipas,
co-chair of AAFP’s Leading Physician Well-Being program. “We are
grateful to the United Health Foundation for its partnership in
this project and for its commitment to improving physician
wellness.”
About the United Health Foundation Through collaboration
with community partners, grants and outreach efforts, the United
Health Foundation works to improve our health system, build a
diverse and dynamic health workforce and enhance the well-being of
local communities. The United Health Foundation was established by
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) in 1999 as a not-for-profit, private
foundation dedicated to improving health and health care. To date,
the United Health Foundation has committed more than $500 million
to programs and communities around the world. To learn more, visit
www.unitedhealthgroup.com.
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Jenifer McCormick, 952-936-1917, jenifer_mccormick@uhg.com
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