Why Wellness Fails

Abstract

Although radiologists increasingly turn to interventions focused on the individual in order to address the symptoms of work-related stress and cultivate wellness, this approach can fail to address isolation and separation as causes of our distress. Despite many efforts focused on dietary, physical, and emotional health, relatively few discussions of burnout have focused on our role as members of health care teams as a solution to the problem. This discussion considers whether we can truly be ourselves without the assistance of those around us. Specifically, we need to cultivate time, space, and collaboration as critical ingredients in any truly healthy radiology workplace. Wholeness as a principle in radiologist health speaks to our status as interconnected persons and colleagues. Just as we cannot effectively care for complex patient needs on our own, we cannot truly restore health to the stressed-out radiologist in isolation. It may be that the opposite of burnout is not individual health. Where wellness falls short, we must seek wholeness.

Keywords: Wellness; burnout; collegiality; wholeness; work-related stress.