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Indiana University School of Medicine
Indiana University School of Medicine
Emergency Medicine
Wellness

2021 Wellness Center of Excellence Award

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) recognized the Department of Emergency Medicine for a department-wide wellness strategy that supported frontline physicians and teams during COVID-19 and helped build a sustainable culture of well-being.

Why it mattered

A wellness response built into operations, not just an afterthought

When COVID-19 reached Indiana, the Department of Emergency Medicine incorporated wellness into the department’s Incident Command structure, alongside clinical operations, logistics and safety planning.

Led by a cross-site Wellness Taskforce

Co-chaired by Julie L. Welch, MD, and Heather P. Kelker, MD, with champions representing all 10 IU Health emergency department sites.

Focused on frontline needs

Wellness surveys and real-time input shaped practical support (including scrubs, showers, sleep rooms, respite spaces), on-the-job interventions, childcare resources, peer support and mental health services.

10
emergency department sites
400k+
annual patient visits
2020
survey work began
2021
BMC Emergency Medicine publication

Explore the award and related work

ACEP

Emergency Medicine Wellness Center of Excellence Award

The Emergency Medicine Wellness Center Excellence Award is presented to an emergency medicine group, department or clinical site that incorporates wellness and resilience on an institutional level and to use the information gathered in the nominations process to understand more about wellness best practices.

IU School of Medicine News Release

EM Department earns national award for wellness efforts during COVID-19

The Department of Emergency Medicine has received the 2021 Emergency Medicine Wellness Center of Excellence Award from the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) for work to promote wellness for its faculty, fellows, residents and staff throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

BMC Emergency Medicine

Prospective study of emergency medicine provider wellness across ten academic and community hospitals during the initial surge of the COVID-19 pandemic

While COVID-19 has had far-reaching consequences on society and health care providers, there is a paucity of research exploring frontline emergency medicine (EM) provider wellness over the course of a pandemic. The objective of this study was to assess the well-being, resilience, burnout and wellness factors and needs of EM physicians and advanced practice providers (e.g., nurse practitioners and physician assistants; APPs) during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.