On Doctoring in the COVID-19 ICU
Authors: Eileen D. Barrett, Cynthia D. Smith
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2024)

LettersJanuary 2024On Doctoring in the COVID-19 ICUFREEEileen D. Barrett, MD, MPH, and Cynthia D. Smith, MDEileen D. Barrett, MD, MPHInstitute for Healthcare Improvement, Albuquerque, New MexicoSearch for more papers by this author, and Cynthia D. Smith, MDAmerican College of Physicians, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaSearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L23-0417 SectionsAboutVisual AbstractPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR: We read Adams' essay (1) with interest and appreciation and were struck by her honesty and vulnerability in writing this powerful and timely work. We, too, continue to be concerned about the mental health consequences of the pandemic—including mood disorders as well as conditions not generally medically treated, such as moral distress and moral injury. We fully agree with her call for destigmatizing mental health diagnoses and mental health care.In response to the types of challenges to clinicians' mental health that are emblematic of what Adams describes, the American College of Physicians (ACP) developed an Emotional Support Hub (www.acponline.org/practice-resources/physician-well-being-and-professional-fulfillment/im-emotional-support-hub) that features vetted peer support and counseling resources for physicians and a collection of short, practical videos to help physicians constructively address their emotions. The hub includes a library of other resources to help both individuals and organizations better address clinician mental health challenges.We also believe there is an urgent need for leaders across medicine and our communities to decrease the threats to clinicians' mental health and help overcome barriers to physicians seeking mental health care. Many physicians fear seeking such care because they are afraid it will affect their ability to receive or maintain their license and hospital privileges. One meaningful change to reduce barriers to physicians seeking mental health care is to revise medical credentialing and licensing applications to not stigmatize mental health. To support physicians engaging in this advocacy, the ACP has developed a toolkit to assist physicians and medical students (www.acponline.org/practice-resources/physician-well-being-and-professional-fulfillment/advocacy-toolkit-modernizing-license-and-credentialing-applications-to-not-stigmatize-mental-health). We encourage physicians to engage in this advocacy while they work more broadly to support access to mental health care across settings and throughout their careers to ensure that physicians will continue to deliver care when patients need us most (2).References1. Adams TN. On doctoring in the COVID-19 ICU. Ann Intern Med. 2023;176:1007-1008. [PMID: 37307584] doi:10.7326/M23-1276 LinkGoogle Scholar2. Barrett E, Hingle ST, Smith CD, et al. Getting through COVID-19: keeping clinicians in the workforce [Editorial]. Ann Intern Med. 2021;174:1614-1615. [PMID: 34570597] doi:10.7326/M21-3381 LinkGoogle Scholar Comments 0 Comments Sign In to Submit A Comment Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Eileen D. Barrett, MD, MPH; Cynthia D. Smith, MDAffiliations: Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Albuquerque, New MexicoAmerican College of Physicians, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaDisclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=L23-0417. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoOn Doctoring in the COVID-19 ICU Traci N. Adams On Doctoring in the COVID-19 ICU Traci N. Adams Metrics Current Issue January 2024Volume 177, Issue 1 ePublished: 16 January 2024 Issue Published: January 2024 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2024 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...