What is the Clinician Health Committee?

The Clinician Health Committee is a place for clinical and organizational leaders to turn, when a medical staff member is showing the strain of life as a clinician. Clinicians may also self-refer or refer a colleague for assistance. The CHC seeks to intervene to prevent mental illness, substance use, or unprofessionalism from causing permanent damage to health, function, or career. The committee adopts a broad focus on clinician well-being. Collaborating closely with Employee Wellbeing, Massachusetts Medical Society Physician Health Services, Provider Engagement, Peer Support, Center for Mindfulness and Compassion, and Quality and Safety, we advocate for organizational change that improves the clinician experience, raises awareness about clinician wellness, and combats the pervasive stigma against seeking help.

Referrals to the Committee are evaluated by co-chairs Dr. Liz Gaufberg and Dr. Sandra DeJong who facilitate appropriate connections to professional internal or external resources for treatment, counseling, monitoring, or educational programs, as needed. Information is protected and privileged under the laws for medical peer review, defined under Massachusetts General Laws (MGL Chapter 111, Section 1) as a group that evaluates the quality of healthcare services. Exceptions to confidentiality include legal and ethical obligations and acute safety concerns.

For the broadest array of perspectives on the Committee’s direction and activities, we have assembled a diverse group of committee members, representing different disciplines and departments. The committee serves as a sounding board for general CHC direction and concerns but members are not apprised of the identity of CHC referrals.

CHC Co-Chair Dr. Gaufberg trained as an internist and psychiatrist at CHA and is the Director of the CHA Center for Professional and Academic Development (CPAD). Dr. DeJong, former Director for the Child/Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) Fellowship and acting CAP Division Chief, currently serves as Senior Consultant to the CAP training program and a staff member of CPAD. She has had an outpatient clinical practice with youth, adults and families since 1999 and has served in the Massachusetts Medical Society Physician Health Program. 

*Please note that the Clinician Health Committee is distinct from our Virtual Peer Support Program, available to all CHA employees, including Medical Staff. CHA is partnering with the Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety on a VPSN. Peer Supporters are trusted and trained peers working in healthcare who offer a listening ear to colleagues who are dealing with the everyday challenges in their lives. For more information, email peer.support@BetsyLehmancenterMA.gov or peersupport@challiance.org