Women Healthcare Providers Must Care For Themselves, Too

Although more and more women have joined the medical field over the last 20 years, that hasn’t stopped us from participating in other areas of life.

It may seem your doctor has it all under control when you visit her office, but the truth is she’s likely juggling multiple priorities just like any other professional.

We are still raising children, managing households, pursuing our hobbies and furthering our education. That realization has led many of us to ask “who is taking care of the people caring for patients?”

The answer to that question can be found at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital on September 17, 2011 at the first Women’s Health and Wellness Symposium: Mind, Body and Soul. Like many symposiums, it addresses exciting topics related to the health of our patients, but it also addresses what medical and nursing school didn’t teach us about healthcare—how to take care of ourselves physically, spiritually, psychologically and financially.

This event was created specifically for women practitioners, but the information that will be shared applies to any woman who is looking for life balance—from the retired professional coordinating care for her family to the stay-at-home mom.

Through this symposium, women learn from role models who will share their secrets to creating balance between work, play and health. And those role models are truly amazing. They include:

• Anne Errichetti, MD, MBA and president of Advocate Condell Medical Center, will discuss her journey from practicing cardiologist with small children to becoming a physician executive.
• Claire Callen, MD, MBA, CPE, and president of the American College of Physician Executives, will present her approach to bringing more women into leadership roles in medicine.
• Judy Abamersham, CPA, MBA, will help participants evaluate their professional financial health.
• Kathie Bender-Schwich, Advocate Health Care Mission and Spiritual Care Senior Vice President, will discuss the role of spirituality in a practitioner’s life.
• Ginny Blasco, RN, ASID, and critical care nurse-turned interior designer, will present how to create and sustain a green, ergonomic workplace in your home and hospital. She will use Lutheran General Hospital as an example, citing our “Partner for Change” award from Project Greenhealth in honor of our “outstanding environment achievements in the health care sector”.
• I am honored to be making a presentation on how we have been able to reduce the amount of radiation exposure in performing CT (Computed Tomography) scans without sacrificing accuracy in diagnosing patients. 

Additional topics and presentations will include:

• Obesity and weight reduction
• Alzheimer’s Disease update
• Ultrasound of the female pelvis
• Breast health
• Addiction
• Music therapy
• Generational communication in the workplace
• Healthcare challenges for the “Sandwich Generation”
• Viewing and discussion on “The Edge of Joy” documentary film

When a health care provider feels there are resources available to help her through her life’s journey, she can turn around and give the best care to her patients.  

To participate, go to advocatehealth.com/seminars or call 1-800-3-ADVOCATE.