TACOMA, Wash. — MultiCare Health System has been recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA) as a Joy in Medicine™ organization.

The prestigious AMA distinction is granted to organizations that attest to the rigorous criteria of the Joy in Medicine™ Health System Recognition Program and demonstrate a commitment to preserving the well-being of clinical care team members through proven efforts to combat work-related stress and burnout.

Burnout rates among the nation’s physicians and other health care professionals spiked dramatically as the COVID-19 pandemic placed acute stress on care teams and exacerbated long-standing issues. While the worst days of the pandemic have passed, the lingering impacts of work-related burnout remain an obstacle to achieving national health goals.

“We are deeply honored to be recognized as a silver-level recipient of the 2023 AMA Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Award, honoring health systems dedicated to the well-being, joy, purpose and meaning of our physicians and APPs,” said Tamara Chang, MD, medical director of physician/APP wellness at MultiCare. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, we realized that our physicians and staff were suffering from severe burnout. MultiCare has been proactive in establishing programs to combat employee stress and burnout.”

Included among the programs MultiCare has established for physician/APP wellness are a peer support program, storytelling event, meal program, movie-based learning program, well-being assessment, group wellness and burnout coaching, and a global outreach program.

Since its inception in 2019, the Joy in Medicine™ Health System Recognition Program has recognized more than 100 organizations across the country. In 2023, a total of 72 health systems nationwide earned recognition with documented efforts to reduce system-level drivers of work-related burnout.