Physician Health Resources
The following resources provide personal and workplace health information addressing a variety of subjects applicable and relevant to all stages of your career.
- Articles and tools addressing a range of physician health-related topics
- Information on arranging a PFSP-sponsored physician health session
- Relevant external websites and organizations
Physician wellness news and events
We’re here with you and for you!
April 8, 2020
PFSP acknowledges the uncertainty, insecurity and frustration physicians are feeling due to the COVID-19 pandemic in combination with the implementation of the funding framework. As always, your well-being and health is our top concern. We have curated this list of resources about to help you with attending to your wellness.
Substance use disorder: New educational video from PFSP
September 10, 2019
What is substance use disorder (SUD) and how can the AMA's PFSP help Alberta physicians? The Physician and Family Support Program and partners have created a video to educate physicians about SUD: what it is, how to identify it and where to seek help.
Articles and tools
Addiction
- Am I alcohol dependant? Try this self-assessment tool.
- Hail Physician: Dare to Care, Part I
Dr. Dianne Maier
Adverse events, complaints and medical-legal litigation
- Dealing with Adverse Events, Complaints, and Medical Legal Litigation
PFSP info-sheet - Transcend adversity
Dr. Nancy Love
Burnout
- Am I at risk for burnout? Try the BMA Doctors for Doctors Burnout Questionnaire.
- Mini Z burnout survey: Find out how your workplace stress levels measure up against others in your field
American Medical Association - One in four Canadian physicians report burnout: New CMA survey provides key indicators on physician health
- Physician Wellness: Preventing Resident and Fellow Burnout
American Medical Association - Preventing Physician Burnout
American Medical Association - ProQOL
The ProQOL is the most commonly used measure of the negative and positive effects of helping others who experience suffering and trauma. The ProQOL has sub-scales for compassion satisfaction, burnout and compassion fatigue. - Rates of burnout, depression reported by doctors, residents concerning: report
Sheryl Ubelacker | The Canadian Press - Self-compassion quiz by Kristin Neff, Ph.D
26 Likert scale questions that measure your self-compassion.
LGBTQ2S+
- Alberta Health Services
Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity & Gender Expression (SOGIE) Safer Places Toolkit - Canadian Mental Health Association
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans & Queer Identified People and Mental Health
PFSP events
- Resources from the Resident Wellness Conference 2019 sessions, including station references, materials, and links to additional tools
Physicians caring for physicians
- The magic white coat: How doctors deal with their own illnesses
Dr. Terrie Brandon - Physician health issue
Vital Signs, March 2017
Relationships with patients
- Living better through empathy
Dr. Jared Bly
Stress and fatigue management
- Managing Compassion Fatigue is an Organizational Responsibility
Dr. Sharron L. Spicer, Vital Signs, April 2018
Suicide prevention
- When a colleague dies: growing through tragedy
Presentation by Dr. Michael F. Myers - Healthcare Professional Burnout, Depression and Suicide Prevention
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - A Physician Public Health Imperative: Respond to Physician Mental Illness and Suicide
PFSP Perspectives, Alberta Doctors' Digest, January-February 2008 - Dr. Dianne Maier - Preventing Physician Distress and Suicide: Recognize and respond to physician distress and suicidal behavior
American Medical Association - The Complexity of Physician Suicide
The BMJ, September 10, 2018 - Dr. Michael Myers - Out of the shadows: Shining light on physician suicide
PFSP Perspectives, Alberta Doctors' Digest. September-October 2016 - Dr. Sara Taylor
Physicians in the workplace
- Fifteen Years into My Brilliant, but Unbalanced Career — Now what?
Dr. Vincent Hanlon - Relationships: What Works for Physicians?
Dr. Monica Hill - Keeping the igloo warm
Dr. Marc Cheriwchan
Physician health sessions
From sponsoring and facilitating education sessions to sponsoring conference and event keynote speakers, PFSP works to help you develop and encourage a healthy culture of medicine with your audience(s).
Physician wellness websites and organizations
- Canadian Association for Physicians with Disabilities
Social networking and support for Canadian physicians with disabilities - Canadian Medical Association Physician Health and Wellness
View the CMA’s Statement on Physician Health and Wellness, its physician health policy, key issues in physician health and wellness and more. - Canadian Medical Protective Association
Connecting Canadian member physicians with risk-management training, legal defense and liability protection. - MD Financial Management
A financial services firm dedicated exclusively to the financial well-being of Canada’s physicians and their families. - Provincial physician health programs
View what all Canadian provinces and territories medical associations offer their physician members. - Professional Association of Resident Physicians of Alberta
Resident Physician Wellness Month: Resident physician-related events and initiatives celebrated annually in May. - Resident Doctors of Canada
Resources for Residents, including intimidation and harassment prevention, Crisis resources and debriefing after negative outcomes. - The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
CanMEDS Physician Health Guide: A practical handbook for physician health and well-being - Well Doc Alberta
A physician wellness initiative led by Dr. Jane Lemaire that offers training modules to address issues such as nutrition, coping strategies, bio-feedback for stress and resilience.
