The Vancouver Division recognizes the importance of the health and wellness for our community. Below are Member Wellness resources and programs we hope you’ll find useful.
“My goal, as Vancouver Division Lead for Physician Health, is for family doctors in Vancouver and all communities, to feel appreciated, valued, experience joy in their work and take care of their health.”
The Division would like to acknowledge physician lead, Dr. Daniel Dodek for his ongoing commitment to bring wellness to the forefront of our communications and support. Dr. Dan writes a weekly physician wellness column to offer discussion and presentation of support centred around health and wellness. His ‘Dr. Dan Wellness Tips’ continue to provide comfort, reflection, and humour, through sharing an honest and relatable voice, which has become so important during this past year.
Take a look through some of Dr. Dan’s Tips and Resources below.
Dr. Dan’s Wellness Tips
If you’d like to contribute your expertise or knowledge as a guest or regular contributor, reach out to our membership team here.
Bright Spot with Dr. Dan
Colorectal Cancer Can’t Hide From Screening
“Because I’ve known many of these patients for years, these are not anonymous statistics. They are individuals whose stories I know, whose families I’ve met, whose trust I’ve earned. That continuity of care brings deep meaning and joy to my work.” Inspired by a quality improvement initiative previously profiled by the HDC, Dr. Dodek and his team successfully encouraged 65 more patients to complete life-saving testing.
“The amazing Arethra Franklin documentary was released this summer titled “RESPECT”. This led me to think about how patients treat our staff and how patients interact and communicate with physicians. Respect is a fundamental value that is required in the health care setting that contributes to a psychological safe work space. The Vancouver Division has produced a poster that Family Doctors can use throughout the medical office reminding patients of appropriate behaviour.”
Dr. Dan’s Wellness Tip
What is it like to be you today?
“I have a 240 second challenge for you: deep listening. According to Dr. Marissa King in the book Social Chemistry this exercise can help you become more open, flexible and less biased. Start by asking a friend or colleague, “what is it like to be you today?” Now the hard part – listen uninterrupted for 2 minutes. No affirmations, no questions. Warning: this may be seriously uncomfortable. But in 240 seconds you might just learn a lot.”
Dr. Dan’s Wellness Tip
Endurance
“Endurance can be defined by the power of coping with an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving up. I am so amazed at my colleagues in the hospitals and community who continue to endure throughout the pandemic. One of my professional challenges is that the finish line keeps getting pushed farther away. Sports psychologists stress focus on today’s match and not the end game ensures best performance.”
Dr. Dan’s Success Story
Physicians Pharmacist Collaboration
The role of the clinical pharmacist continues to be integrated into the Primary Care Networks (PCN) across Vancouver. This integration has focused on increasing awareness of the PCN Clinical Pharmacist role in comprehensive medication management, while also exploring what effective partnership between primary care providers and the PCN Pharmacist can look like.
If you’d like to contribute your expertise or knowledge as a guest or regular contributor, reach out to our membership team here.
Additionally, find below a number of resources to help you on your wellness journey.
Dr. Dan’s Wellness Resources
This Hub provides reliable wellness tools and resources to empower physicians, medical learners, leaders and educators to create change in the culture of medicine.
The Physician Health Program (PHP) believes that all physicians should establish a long-term, trusting relationship with a primary care provider (PCP). Complete the form through this link to be matched with a PCP.
Physician Health Program is a responsive, high quality care provider and community services navigator for physicians, trainees and their families. The PHP helpline for confidential, personalized assistance with issues such as mental health, relationship stress, career and life transitions, substance use and concern for colleague is open 24/7.
Physicians can benefit from sharing their challenging experiences with peers who may have experienced similar situations and can truly understand. Support from colleagues can have a positive impact on wellbeing and workplace experiences.
The Peer Support Initiative offers confidential, non-clinical, support to physician colleagues by physician Peer Supporters in a 1:1 setting.
Doc-to-Doc Member Tips
Doc-to-Doc is a place to showcase the amazing and diverse leadership in the Vancouver Family Medicine community which each their own unique expertise and interests.
Browse through our other featured tips, or leave one of your own!
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