Ochsner Health honored by AMA for Joy in Medicine

(Press-News.org) Ochsner Health has earned a Gold-level recognition in 2025 from the American Medical Association (AMA) as a Joy in Medicine® organization. The prestigious recognition from the country’s leading physician association honors health systems, hospitals and medical groups that prioritize proven methods to reduce burnout and enhance the professional fulfillment of doctors that comes from patient care. Organizations that meet the rigorous criteria of the Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program are leaders in the national effort to transform healthcare work systems and address the root causes of burnout among care teams.

Ochsner has maintained recognition for Joy in Medicine® by the American Medical Association since its inception in 2019. 

"At Ochsner, we’ve prioritized the well-being and mental health of our team members at a system-wide level, and we are truly honored to have our efforts recognized by the AMA,” said Nigel Girgrah, MD, chief wellness officer at Ochsner Health. “We entered the healthcare field to heal, educate and provide care – and we know that the well-being of our teams is critical to our mission." 

Burnout among U.S. physicians peaked at 62.8% in 2021 during the Covid pandemic, according to research. But thanks to strides made to address burnout at the system level, the national physician burnout rate ebbed to 45.2% in 2023. Despite improvements, physician burnout levels remain much higher than levels among other U.S. workers. Continued efforts are essential to ensure doctors receive the support they need to thrive and achieve national health goals. 

“Joy in Medicine recognized organizations are leading the gains made against the physician burnout crisis and are helping clinicians rediscover the deep rewards and joy that comes from helping patients,” said AMA President Bobby Mukkamala, M.D. “The AMA distinction honors each organization’s commitment to not only the health and well-being of the care team, but also to patients. Quality care ultimately originates from a positive and purposeful work culture where health care professionals can flourish both mentally and physically.” 

To ensure every team member can thrive, Ochsner launched a dedicated Office of Professional Well-Being and has developed a number of evidence-based programs that aligned with its five strategic areas of focus: ease of practice, leadership development, promoting an organizational culture of well-being, personal and team resilience and supporting the mental health needs of its workforce. The Office of Professional Well-Being offers comprehensive programming and services, including:  

C.O.P.E. (Connecting with Our Peers through Empathy) is a peer-to-peer emotional support for difficult events, with 50 trained peer supporters.   Personnel Crisis Response is a coordinated support of impacted team members that may include debriefings, distribution of resources, escalated EAP requests, and C.O.P.E. calls made to impacted team members.  The Team Assessment and Optimization program, created by Dr. John Sawyer, increases team performance and reduces individual burnout. This systematic, multi-faceted approach with teams spans several months with various one-on-one and team interviews, interactive discussions, and feedback sessions.  Cabana is a free resource for Ochsner employees accessible via their website and app that has scheduled sessions and on-demand content to support their well-being. There are eight Cabana wellness pods across Ochsner Health with guided virtual experiences designed for Ochsner employees to reduce stress and anxiety during the workday.  Personal Empowerment Coaching is for employees looking to find balance at work and beyond. In this confidential, one-on-one program, a coach supports you in decoding the sources of your stress to take action to find joy and contentment in their life. There is also the Professional Experience Program that offers confidential coaching for physicians and APPs.    

Ochsner offers personal development opportunities to support team members' well-being:  

MINDBODYSTRONG: A 7-week evidence-based virtual program for improving mental health and job satisfaction is provided by System Nursing Professional Development.  Bouncebackability is a full-day, interactive discussion about building self-awareness and curiosity around the impacts of stress.  Mental Health First Aid is an early intervention tool an adult can use to help connect another adult, who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge, to appropriate supports and treatments.   By building a culture of well-being for its employees and physicians, Ochsner has earned numerous awards and accolades. Earlier this year, Ochsner was named a 2025 Wellbeing First Champion by the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation, and Ochsner was named one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Mental Wellbeing by Newsweek in 2024. Ochsner appears in Fortune Best Workplaces in Health Care, Newsweek’s America's Greatest Workplaces, and Forbes Top Workplaces.  

Since its inception in 2019, the AMA Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program has recognized more than 200 organizations across the country. Recognition levels are valid for two years. This year, a total of 109 health organizations nationwide earned recognition with documented efforts to reduce system-level drivers of work-related burnout and demonstrated competencies in commitment, assessment, leadership, efficiency of practice environment, teamwork and support. Organizations that earned 2025-2026 recognition join a strong group of currently recognized organizations from the 2024-2025 program, bringing the currently recognized cohort to 164 recognized organizations. 

Learn more about the AMA Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program at ama-assn.org/joyinmedicine.  

About Ochsner Health

Ochsner Health is the leading nonprofit healthcare provider in the Gulf South, delivering expert care at its 47 hospitals and more than 370 health and urgent care centers. For 14 consecutive years, U.S. News & World Report has recognized Ochsner as the No. 1 hospital in Louisiana. Additionally, Ochsner Children’s has been recognized as the No. 1 hospital for kids in Louisiana for four consecutive years. Ochsner inspires healthier lives and stronger communities through a combination of standard-setting expertise, quality and connection not found anywhere else in the region. In 2024, Ochsner Health cared for more than 1.6 million people from every state in the nation and 63 countries. Ochsner’s workforce includes more than 40,000 dedicated team members and over 4,900 employed and affiliated physicians. To learn more about how Ochsner empowers people to get well and stay well, visit https://www.ochsner.org/.

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