MemorialCare Wins Repeat Praise from AMA for Concrete Steps Against Physician Burnout

MemorialCare wins repeat recognition for tackling clinician burnout

MemorialCare Medical Group has been named one of 18 California recipients of the American Medical Association’s Joy in Medicine award. The announcement, made in mid-December, recognizes health systems that take clear steps to reduce physician burnout and improve workplace wellbeing. This is the second year in a row MemorialCare has earned the honor — a signal that the system’s programs are sticking beyond a one-off effort.

The award matters because physician stress affects more than staff morale. Burnout can make it harder for patients to get consistent care, bump up staff turnover, and raise costs for hospitals. The AMA’s recognition highlights systems that are trying to fix those problems in ways that other hospitals can copy.

Inside the AMA’s Joy in Medicine recognition

The Joy in Medicine program is run by the American Medical Association. It looks for organizations that have moved beyond slogans and created lasting changes to support clinicians’ mental health and work-life balance. Judges review things like leadership commitment, measurable programs, and whether changes reach a broad group of clinicians, not just a pilot team.

Only a small number of organizations in California receive the award each year, which makes this a selective honor rather than a broad certificate program. The AMA highlights winners to set examples for other systems across the state and country.

Practical steps MemorialCare says it took to reduce burnout

In its award nomination, MemorialCare outlined a mix of practical steps aimed at the daily causes of stress for doctors and advanced practice clinicians. Those steps included making schedule changes to give clinicians predictable time off, creating peer-support groups, and protecting blocks of time for administrative work so it does not spill into evenings and weekends.

The group also pointed to work on the electronic health record, where small fixes and better templates can shave hours from a doctor’s day. MemorialCare described training for clinical leaders so they can spot staff who are struggling and take action early. The system has expanded access to confidential counseling and put formal programs in place to follow up with clinicians after difficult events.

Leadership emphasized measuring progress. MemorialCare uses regular wellbeing surveys and tracks staff turnover and vacancy trends to see whether changes are having an effect. While the press summary did not give hard numbers, the system framed the work as steady and cumulative rather than a quick fix.

Reactions from leaders and clinicians

MemorialCare executives framed the award as evidence that leadership priorities are shifting. “We are honored to be recognized again by the AMA,” said a MemorialCare leader in the announcement. “This is a result of real investment in our clinicians’ day-to-day lives.”

Clinicians who spoke in the release described practical relief. One physician said, “Having protected time for paperwork and a supportive peer network has made a measurable difference in how I show up for patients.” A nurse leader added that the programs have helped teams stay together during tight staffing periods.

Community partners welcomed the news, noting that stable clinical teams mean fewer disruptions for patients and families.

Why recognition for clinician wellbeing matters for patients and staff

When a health system wins a credibility award for clinician wellbeing, the upside reaches patients. Happier clinicians are less likely to leave, which keeps care teams intact and cuts the costs of recruiting and training new staff. Better-staffed teams also tend to deliver more consistent follow-up and fewer avoidable delays for patients.

For organizations, the recognition helps with recruitment and reputation. Prospective clinicians notice when a system invests in day-to-day work-life quality rather than only promoting perks or one-off wellness events.

Where MemorialCare goes from here after consecutive recognition

Having earned the AMA honor two years running, MemorialCare says it will keep expanding the programs it already has and start sharing best practices with other systems. The next steps the group highlighted include broadening leadership training, continuing to refine health record workflows, and publishing lessons so peer hospitals can adopt similar changes.

In plain terms, the award is less about a trophy and more about proof that change can last. For patients and clinicians in MemorialCare’s communities, that continuity is the real payoff.

Sources

• prnewswire.com