HonorHealth has earned recognition from the American Medical Association as a Joy in Medicine recognized organization.

The prestigious AMA distinction is granted only to organizations that attest to the rigorous criteria of the Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program and demonstrate a commitment to preserving the well-being of clinical care team members through proven efforts to combat work-related stress and burnout, according to a press release.

“For me, this is recognition of the work HonorHealth is doing to help physicians do what they love and what they do best, which is providing excellent care to our community,” said Tiffany Pankow, HonorHealth chief of caregiver wellness and patient experience. “We know that physician well-being is fundamentally important to providing safe, high quality and empathetic care. It also signals to others in the community that HonorHealth is dedicated to being the health system where the best physicians in the Valley want to work because they are valued and supported.”

Burnout rates among the nation’s physicians and other health care professionals spiked dramatically as the COVID-19 pandemic placed acute stress on care teams and exacerbated long-standing system issues. While the worst days of the pandemic have past, the lingering impact of work-related burnout remains an obstacle to achieving national health goals.

“Health organizations that have earned recognition from the AMA’s Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program are leading a national movement that has declared the well-being of health professionals to be an essential element for providing high-quality care to patients, families, and communities,” said AMA President Jesse M. Ehrenfeld. “Each Joy in Medicine recognized organization is distinguished as among the nation’s best at creating a culture of wellness that makes a difference in the lives of clinical care teams.”

“Part of this work is cultural,” added Dr. Pankow. “At the HonorHealth Center for Wellbeing, we are involving clinicians to improve our processes by getting feedback and input from those on the frontlines doing the work, listening to what matters most to our physicians and then using that input to work toward improvements that increase their joy in the work they do led to this recognition.”

Since its inception in 2019, the Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program has recognized more than 100 organizations across the country. In 2023, a total of 72 health systems nationwide earned recognition with documented efforts to reduce system-level drivers of work-related burnout and demonstrated competencies in commitment, assessment, leadership, efficiency of practice environment, teamwork, and support.

Learn more about the AMA Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program at ama-assn.org/joyinmedicine.