The American Meditation Institute (AMI) has received IRB (Institutional Review Board) approval through the Berkshire Medical Center to conduct a research study that will examine the impact of a basic daily mantra-based AMI MEDITATION practice on the symptoms of burnout, compassion fatigue and stress in healthcare providers. The first participants in this study will be among those who received their training in Yoga Science as holistic mind/body medicine at AMI’s tenth annual Heart and Science of Yoga® CME conference October 23-27, 2018 at the Cranwell Resort and Spa in Lenox, Massachusetts.
The principal investigator of the study is Mark Pettus MD, Director of Medical Education and Population Health, Berkshire Health Systems, and the co-principal investigator is Beth Netter MD, Chair of The American Meditation Institute’s Department of Medical Education. According to Dr. Netter, “The study will evaluate how a daily AMI MEDITATION practice can help to provide healthcare professionals a happier, healthier life along with relief from burnout symptoms and an enhanced work/life balance.”
Although there are a number of systems and organizational factors contributing to burnout in the healthcare arena (including increases in computerization of practice, bureaucratic tasks, hours at work), AMI founder Leonard Perlmutter claims that, “It is how we respond to those stressors that effects our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. While organizational changes are being recognized and implemented, healthcare providers desperately need self-care support so that they may work and live with greater health and well-being.”