Doctor’s Note: October Newsletter Introduction from Dr. Lee Beers

Hello and happy fall! I hope that you each have been able to take a break and spend some time enjoying the beautiful weather that we have been having. I know how very hard everyone is working as the new school year has launched. In our new behavioral health initiative, we have been focusing on how to best meet the mental health needs of our patients, though it’s also important to remember to attend to our own well-being. This can be especially hard when things get busy, and even harder when those busy times are layered on top of the unrelenting pressures and stresses of the past few years. I read a report last week (shared with me by Dr. Chung) noting that between 60-70 percent of pediatricians (rates varied depending on a few different individual factors) were experiencing significant stress or burnout, and many were even considering leaving the profession. I’d imagine this comes as no surprise to most of us. Importantly, the report stressed the importance of addressing systemic and cultural workplace issues as an essential part of the solution. This is a key reason why our approach to behavioral health moving forward in PHN will not just focus on educational initiatives (thank you to those of you who participated in this summer’s series and don’t forget to fill out your final evaluation survey!), but also on identifying and supporting best practices for integrated care — to include workflow, finance, and staffing models. We’d love to hear what is working in your practices, or any innovative and out-of-the-box ideas you have — please reach out to share them with us. As for me, I am enjoying getting outdoors to watch my kids’ soccer games and go for long walks or runs with the dog. I can’t wait to see many of you at the AAPs National Conference and Exhibition, coming up very soon! Take care, thank you for all you do, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Lee S. Beers, M.D.
Medical Director, PHN