E-Learning Program Teaches Caregivers How to Combat Stress, Avoid Burnout

It’s no secret that stress among caregivers can have significant personal and professional consequences, including burnout, decreased performance, depersonalization and even poor patient outcomes. Yet, although the physical and emotional demands of caregiving are well-known, some caregivers may be reluctant to seek help in times of grief or hardship.

To address these challenges and the evolving emotional needs of its staff, Cleveland Clinic has developed an on-demand, online learning program designed to equip employees with the tools needed to better care for themselves and their peers.

“By their very nature, caregivers are focused on meeting the needs of other people, and nowhere was this more apparent than during the COVID-19 pandemic – the effects of which we’re still grappling with today,” says Amy Freadling, PhD, LPCC-S, CEAP, BCC, Executive Director of Caring for Caregivers at Cleveland Clinic. “This experience helped us recognize the need to prioritize the well-being of our caregivers in a way that we hadn't before.”

Provided by Cleveland Clinic’s Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Global Leadership and Learning Institute, iCare is designed to help caregivers understand the widespread effect of trauma and stress in the workplace and provide them with the skills necessary to render an appropriate, healthy response.

Healing through education

The program, which is voluntary and self-paced, covers a broad range of topics, including differentiating between trauma and stress, identifying common signs of burnout and practicing self-compassion. It also teaches caregivers how to support their peers by identifying emotional distress, building better habits and using effective communication techniques like active listening.

“One doesn't necessarily need a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder to feel the significant effects of stress,” Dr. Freadling says. “Understanding this can be normalizing and validating for people who may not have the words to describe what they're experiencing. We’ve tried to create a program that makes our caregivers feel seen and heard – a fundamental component of professional and personal happiness.”

Dr. Freadling explains Cleveland Clinic also developed a separate iCare track for leaders, which is designed to help them recognize their obligation to support and direct their teams.

“A recent Deloitte survey shows that 70% of employees say their manager has tremendous influence on their mental health and well-being – more influence than their doctor or therapist,” she says. “Educational programs like these can serve as important reminders for clinical leaders, in particular, who carry specific role-related responsibilities that aren't always easily recognized.”

Dr. Freadling notes that both leaders and caregivers alike are deriving benefits from iCare. In a recent internal survey, 95% of participants said the program enhanced their well-being.

“iCare was created specifically to provide our employees with timeless, relevant tools,” she adds. “I’m very proud that we were able to create an educational course that is so meaningful to the people for whom it was intended.”