Publications by authors named "Heather Kelker"

Objectives: In emergency medicine (EM), the interplay of wellbeing and burnout impacts not only patient care, but the health, productivity, and job satisfaction of EM healthcare workers. The study objective was to use a rapid assessment tool to identify factors that impact EM worker satisfaction, or "wellness," while on shift in the emergency department (ED) and the association with role and level of satisfaction.

Methods: This prospective descriptive study utilized a QR-code-based electronic survey instrument that included a 7-point Likert shift satisfaction score.

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Objective: To test the feasibility, receptivity, and preliminary effectiveness of peer support groups for emergency medicine physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic and gain a better understanding of their experiences with peer support.

Methods: This pilot study used a quasi-experimental design to assess change in symptoms of distress, anxiety, depression and burn-out before and after participating in a virtual, group-based peer support intervention for a duration of 8 weeks. Pre-post change analyses were performed using two-sided, paired tests.

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Background Recent studies have shown a higher incidence of complications from acute appendicitis in Hispanic populations. Hispanic ethnicity alone has been shown to be a risk factor. In contrast, one study found little evidence of racial disparities in complication rates.

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Background: While COVID-19 has had far-reaching consequences on society and health care providers, there is a paucity of research exploring frontline emergency medicine (EM) provider wellness over the course of a pandemic. The objective of this study was to assess the well-being, resilience, burnout, and wellness factors and needs of EM physicians and advanced practice providers (e.g.

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Article Synopsis
  • A study was conducted to assess the well-being, resilience, and burnout of emergency medicine (EM) providers during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, involving 213 physicians and advanced practice providers across various emergency departments.
  • Respondents completed weekly anonymous questionnaires measuring wellness, burnout, and resilience, revealing a decline in concerns about personal safety and stress over the four weeks, though burnout levels remained relatively unchanged.
  • The study found that women were more likely to experience feelings of isolation compared to men, and working part-time increased the risk of burnout among the EM providers.
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