Engaging Virtually: Assessing the Impact of Schwartz Rounds in the Digital Era

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Occupational Health
• Medical Education

Background:

• Healthcare professionals experience significant burnout and emotional strain, affecting patient care quality.
• The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these challenges, increasing the need for support systems.
• Schwartz Rounds® offer a platform for open discussion of work-related emotional and social challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of virtual Schwartz Rounds in supporting healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To assess the impact of virtual Schwartz Rounds on staff well-being, collaboration, and perspectives.
• To identify factors influencing attendance and engagement in virtual Schwartz Rounds.

Main Methods:

• Conducted 28 virtual Schwartz Rounds sessions between April 2021 and November 2023.
• Recorded attendance of 2664 participants.
• Collected survey responses from 557 participants regarding their experiences and perceived benefits.

Main Results:

• Survey responses were overwhelmingly positive, reporting new insights, reduced isolation, and increased openness in discussing patient care.
• Facilitators received high praise, and nearly all attendees intended to participate in future sessions.
• Challenge-focused sessions were associated with higher attendance; incentives like CME credit did not significantly impact attendance or survey completion.

Conclusions:

• Virtual Schwartz Rounds are a valuable tool for promoting healthcare staff well-being and fostering collaboration.
• The model shows promise in mitigating burnout and emotional strain among healthcare professionals.
• Further research at diverse institutions is recommended to confirm generalizability.