As part of the NBMS’s ongoing commitment to creating and enhancing a positive and supportive work environment for its members, the Society established the Physician Lounge Improvement Initiative in 2024 to help physicians revitalize their gathering spaces within hospitals across the province.
The physicians’ lounge plays a pivotal role in improving physician wellness and combatting burnout. A physicians’ lounge is a space within a health-care facility that is specifically designated for physicians to recharge, connect and collaborate. These dedicated spaces contribute to improved morale, increased productivity, and overall well-being in several ways:
- Faster Decision-Making: A physician lounge provides a place for physicians to combat fatigue and restore mental clarity. This dedicated space also stimulates creativity, and fosters quicker decision-making, translating into more efficient patient care.
- Enhanced Communication & Collaboration: The informal conversations and interactions that take place in physician lounges can lead to better communication and collaboration. These spaces provide the opportunity for the exchange of knowledge and ideas, more effective teamwork, streamlined workflows as well as reducing workplace silos, all of which positively impact patient care and treatment strategies.
- Reduced Burnout: When physicians have a dedicated space to utilize, they are more likely to take the time to recover and therefore make better decisions, reducing the risk of errors and improving patient outcomes. This, in turn, can help prevent physicians from taking excessive sick leave or experiencing absenteeism due to work-related stress, ultimately ensuring a more consistent and productive workforce.
- Improved Morale & Job Satisfaction: Physician lounges serve as a space where physicians can find solace and encouragement from their peers, reducing feelings of isolation, and alienation. This boosts morale, creating a more positive work environment, which can lead to increased job satisfaction and motivation. Increased job satisfaction leads to retention and higher levels of productivity overall.
- Stress Reduction: Medicine is a high-stress profession, where physicians deal with life-and-death situations, heavy workloads, and emotionally taxing encounters with patients and their families. A well-equipped lounge provides a peaceful environment where physicians can temporarily escape the pressures of their work, recharge, and reduce stress.
The physicians’ lounge is not just a luxury but a crucial component of any health-care facility and an important tool for combatting physician burnout. Recognizing the importance of these spaces can have a profound impact on the well-being of physicians and, by extension, the health of the community they serve.
In order to support the revitalization of these crucial spaces, the NBMS allotted a total budget of $1.8 million available for physician lounge improvement, which includes $120,000 available to bigger hospitals, while smaller hospitals are eligible for $60,000.
The first facility to take advantage of this new initiative is the Saint John Regional Hospital (SJRH). After submitting a successful application, the SJRH was approved for the full $120,000 available to them, and work began on the renovations in late 2024. The new lounge was officially opened in early June, featuring numerous enhancements including all new flooring, a new kitchen and dining space, bathroom renovations, painting and other aesthetic improvements, as well as several upgrades to the dictation room.
The NBMS is excited to have been able to assist with this project, and to see the funding provided put to such effective use. We encourage other hospitals to explore this opportunity and look forward to working with them to help improve their own physician lounges.
To apply for funding, simply visit the program webpage and complete the application process.
Jim Johnson, Communications Specialist
