Welfare of Anaesthetists

Objective

The Welfare of Anaesthetists Group has been meeting on a regular basis since August 1995. The group was formed to raise awareness of the many personal and professional issues which can adversely affect the physical and emotional well-being of anaesthetists and intensivists at all stages of their careers. In 1998 the group became an official special interest group (SIG), with ANZCA providing the secretariat. The group is an informative, educative and referral group; it has no therapeutic role.

Aims of the SIG

The aims of the Welfare of Anaesthetists SIG is to promote the personal and psychological well-being of anaesthetists and pain medicine practitioners and to heighten awareness of welfare issues in anaesthetists.

It achieves these aims by:

• Educating anaesthetists and trainees in the care of their personal and psychological health, and that of their colleagues, fostering a climate of care, openness and support.
• Identifying issues causing stress in anaesthetists’ lives.
• Establishing guidelines for management of welfare-related problems (see Resources).
• Expanding continuing medical education activities to include education on issues such as lifestyle, mental health, relationships, stress management and personal development, by holding sessions at state and national meetings, one-day seminars, and regional seminars for trainees and trainers.
• Developing support strategies within and outside the profession.
• Establishing a website, a resource brochure, a resource network and a reading list.
• Facilitating access to, and liaison with existing helping agencies (for example, Doctors' Health Advisory Services - DHAS).
• Advertising welfare activities and support schemes (in ASA and NZSA newsletters, ANZCA Bulletin).
• Liaising with ANZCA, ASA, NZSA and other organisations.
• Researching and collecting data.

WOAG mission: Our function

The Welfare of Anaesthetists Special Interest Group was formed to promote the concept of physician health, both physical and mental. It is our intention to make physician health issues mainstream and regarded as integral to healthy doctor-patient, doctor-family and doctor-workplace relationships. Our activities include, (but are not limited to): Education (trainees as well as specialists), liaison with other professional bodies, guidance (but not direct treatment or referral) for appropriate management of physician health problems).

WOAG vision: Future directions

Research and data on welfare issues in Australian/New Zealand anaesthetists. Wide acceptance by professional bodies and health administrations of the importance of welfare issues. Development of workplace practices that support anaesthetists and keep them well.

WOAG goals: Strategies to fulfil our mission and vision

Plenary sessions at major continuing medical education meetings.

Free-standing SIG meetings.

Annual state-based meetings on welfare and professional issues for trainees.

Health and welfare surveys.

Activities

An online blog was recently published by the ASA on 'Substance abuse and the healthcare provider', written by Dr Rob Fry, executive member of the Welfare SIG. To view the blog click here.

The Welfare SIG contributed a session to the 2011 ASA NSC held in Sydney on Monday September 12, 2011. The session was titled "Life matters", speakers included Dr David Bennett, Professor Gin Malhi and Dr Tracey Tay.

The Welfare SIG also contributed a workshop and a session to the 2011 CSM in Hong Kong. For further details please visit the CSM website.

Events

Combined Education, Management, Simulation & Welfare SIG Meeting, 2012:

"Workforce: future force" - REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN!

The Welfare SIG is involved in the annual combined Education, Management, Simulation and Welfare SIG meeting. The next combined SIG meeting will be held at Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove, Queensland, from September 21-23.

Please click here to visit the conference webpage.

Resources

The resource documents developed by the Welfare SIG provide brief comment, give references, and identify strategies for use in dealing with the more common professional and personal stresses: 

RD 01 Personal Health Strategies 2011
RD 02  Financial Issues 2011
RD 03  Depression and Anxiety 2011 
RD 04  Retirement 2011
RD 05 Critical Incident Support 2011
RD 06 Training and Examinations 2011
RD 07 Sexual Misconduct 2011
RD 08 Mentors 2011
RD 09 Why don’t you have your own GP ? 2011
RD 10 Breaking Bad News 2011
RD 11 After a Major Mishap 2011
RD 13 Impairment in a Colleague 2011
RD 14 Medico-legal issues 2011
RD 15 Training and Family Responsibilities 2011
RD 16 Welfare Issues in the Anaesthetic Department
RD 17 Infectious Diseases 2011
RD 18 Latex Allergy 2011
RD 19 Ergonomics 2011
RD 20 Substance Abuse 2011 
RD 21 Organ Donation 2011 

RD 22 Bullying and Harassment 2011
RD 23 Communication Consent 2011 
RD 24 Mandatory Reporting 2011 
RD 25 The Disruptive Anaesthetist 2011

Annual Report 2010
Annual Report 2009
Annual Report 2008

AGM Minutes 2011- now available
AGM Minutes 2010
AGM Minutes 2009
AGM Minutes 2007

Web resources

Doctor's Health Advisory Service

Doctor's Health Advisory Service

If you are concerned about yourself or a colleague, contact the "hotline" nearest to you

Membership

If you’d like information on joining the Welfare SIG, download an application form or contact Hannah Burnell, SIG Coordinator on +61 3 8517 5392

Executive committee

The executive of the Welfare of Anaesthetists SIG meets regularly, usually via teleconference to discuss matters related to the group's area of interest.

For further information: Hannah Burnell, phone +61 3 8517 5392 or visit the ACECC website.

Other activities

• Articles in ANZCA Bulletin, ASA newsletters and other publications.
• Doctors’ health advisory services numbers in ANZCA Bulletin and ASA newsletter.
• Liaison with ANZCA, ASA, NZSA, doctors health advisory services, regional medical boards.