WellSpentMD, the app developed by Duke Neurosurgery residents for Duke Neurosurgery residents to help prevent burnout, has been reinvented to address current needs – namely, the COVID-19 pandemic.
Theresa Williamson and Jackie Corley developed the app two years ago, and data after a 4-month period showed that residents and attendings had improved scores on four key questions in the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Now, the app is building on this success to address the unique challenges surrounding the pandemic.
What’s new in the app? Things like “Things to Do During Social Distancing”: workouts, recipes, and links to Headspace, which is now free for providers. Here are a few highlights:
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Recipes by resident Daniel Sexton and APP Ana Lisa Nardin (who love to cook)
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Meditation with neurosurgeon Patrick Codd
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Yoga suggestions by faculty member Kate McDaniel
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New and more freebies and rewards (However, according to Theresa, the main attraction of the app is and always has been the interaction)
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Access to the Peloton app, no bike required! (Peloton also offers running and walking workouts.)
Another feature of the app is a resource section where important mental health and wellness resources are noted. One of these is the psychology coaching program which came about through a collaboration between Theresa and a close friend who is a clinical psychology resident. Duke Neurosurgery residents can access free counseling via Zoom to help deal with the stresses of residency, particularly during the challenging and constantly changing landscape set by COVID.
The WellSpentMD app is currently available to clinical faculty, residents, and APPs. Find it in the App Store. Email Theresa Williamson for more information.