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Working with Providers and Healthcare Systems Experiencing Compassion Fatigue and Burnout

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Medical Family Therapy

Abstract

Caring for families who have experienced trauma, loss, or chronic conditions can have lasting effects on providers, especially when faced with complex situations for extended periods of time. Training programs often do not prepare providers to avoid common challenges such as burnout (BRN) and compassion fatigue (CF). In this chapter, the authors provide operational definitions for these conditions in healthcare based on research conducted with diverse medical and behavioral health providers. The authors include personal and professional recommendations that promote self-care in medical family therapists (MedFTs), that can be taught to other healthcare staff and providers within workplace contexts that are emotionally charged, psychologically draining, and oftentimes physically demanding.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    An asterisk has been used to note references that the chapter authors recommend for further reading.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA

    Angela Lamson

  2. Charlotte, NC, USA

    Patrick Meadors

  3. University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA

    Tai Mendenhall

Authors
  1. Angela Lamson
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  2. Patrick Meadors
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  3. Tai Mendenhall
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Angela Lamson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Child Development & Family Relations, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA

    Jennifer Hodgson

  2. Child Development & Family Relations, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA

    Angela Lamson

  3. Family Social Science Couple and Family Therapy Program, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA

    Tai Mendenhall

  4. School of Family Life, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA

    D. Russell Crane

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Lamson, A., Meadors, P., Mendenhall, T. (2014). Working with Providers and Healthcare Systems Experiencing Compassion Fatigue and Burnout. In: Hodgson, J., Lamson, A., Mendenhall, T., Crane, D. (eds) Medical Family Therapy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-03482-9_7

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