Let's Huddle!
Quick Connect Huddles was created by Dr. Derrick Alger & his family to address the critical need to fight burnout among physicians. Given that physicians face one of the highest rates of suicide among all professions, our mission is clear: to provide a quick and meaningful way for physicians to connect with their colleagues.
One-year collection of QC Huddles.
The Challenge: Creating engaging and meaningful topics for every wellness meeting can be both challenging and time-consuming, especially in the demanding environment of healthcare.
Our Solution: Quick Connect Huddles offers a 12-month program designed to help your medical team connect, thrive, and reduce burnout. We provide everything you need to make your wellness meetings impactful and straightforward.
12-Month Wellness Curriculum Created by a Physician... for other Physicans.
Engaging Content, Ready to Go: Receive 12 months of thoughtfully curated content (created by a physician and his family) that promotes connection and collegiality among your team, with no prep work required.
Foster Stronger Teams: Enhance camaraderie, reduce burnout, and improve overall team well-being through structured, meaningful discussions.
Prioritize Well-being: Ensure your medical team feels supported and valued by making wellness a priority.
Transform your wellness meetings into powerful sessions that build stronger bonds and create a thriving healthcare team. Prioritize connection, reduce burnout, and enhance the well-being of your medical professionals with Quick Connect Huddles.
No prep work is required – just meaningful connections and a healthier team!
Why connection matters.
Connection is essential for a thriving medical team. When physicians feel connected to their colleagues, they are more likely to feel supported and less likely to experience burnout.
A strong sense of connection can also lead to improved job satisfaction and better patient care, as physicians who feel connected to their team are more likely to be engaged and motivated.
Quick Connect Huddles are designed to help medical teams connect and thrive. The program provides monthly content and support to make wellness meetings a success and improve collegiality on your team.
With Quick Connect Huddles, you can:
Proactively combat burnout
Enhance physician well-being
Forge bonds with colleagues who understand the unique challenges you face
Increase physician retention
Hi there, my name is Derrick Alger, I am a family medicine physician practicing as a hospitalist in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
My wife, Kylie, and I are parents of four young kiddos under the age of seven. Life gets busy, and although I'm not a big fan of meetings, I have found that taking time to connect with my colleagues has been a crucial component contributing to my overall health and well-being.
The irony in healthcare is that, despite our commitment as physicians to others' well-being, our own health, happiness and well-being often suffers.
The idea of Quick Connect Huddles was born during the pandemic as many physicians were struggling with burnout. I was asked to lead a meeting on resiliency. Given the high census and crunched for time, the first idea for a "Quick Connect" was born. After discussing the mission with my wife for delivering something meaningful, interactive, and time-conscious, the very first huddle took place within our small group talking about "Surge Capacity."
The idea came to surface
Quick Connect Huddles was born during the COVID-19 pandemic, out of necessity. Many physicians during the pandemic, including myself, were struggling with burnout. I was asked to give a talk to help with resiliency. Given the high census, and crunched for time, the first idea to "quickly connect" was born. After discussing the mission with my wife to deliver something meaningful and time-conscious, the very first huddle took place when I read an article my wife and her mom wrote about "Surge Capacity."
We then created a worksheet with reflection questions to go along with the article and realized that the Read, Reflect, Connect format worked really well. Our group was talking and connecting more than we had in a while. My team asked me to present another article topic for the following month, and then that's when I thought, “Hey! If we can do this for our hospital, we could do this for every hospital!”
The Quick Connect (QC) Format
Dr. Derrick Alger has structured each “Quick Connect” based on his successful approach to fostering connectivity among his colleagues. The QC format comprises three key elements: Read, Reflect, and Connect.
Read
The team leader guides the group in reading aloud a curated article on health and wellness, selected to spark meaningful reflections.
Reflect
Each team member answers three thought-provoking reflection questions, encouraging personal insight and introspection.
Connect
QCs provide a dedicated space and time for physicians to share insights and build a supportive community based on the reading and reflection they've experienced together.
Physicians on our team have been participating in these “huddles” since 2022.
This format has led to more engaging conversations and group discussions than previous activities.
We firmly believe that healthcare is a team sport. Many different people need to work synergistically together for the benefit of one patient.
Interacting with peers through monthly “huddles” will help your team become stronger and more resilient, as you navigate the ever-changing landscape of healthcare.
Our mission with Quick Connect Huddles is to cultivate a culture of connectedness and collegiality among colleagues. We believe that the addition of consistent huddles, with custom, curated wellness content will help foster more meaningful connections among providers.
Let’s go, Team!
Derrick Alger, MD & the QC Team
By creating a space for colleagues to connect in a vulnerable and authentic manner, you foster a sense of community and support, which is essential for combating burnout and promoting overall well-being.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are Quick Connect Huddles (QC Huddles)?
Quick Connect Huddles are short monthly gatherings designed for medical teams to connect and discuss well-being topics, addressing burnout and fostering collegiality.
2. How long do Quick Connect Huddles last?
Huddles typically last less than 30 minutes, providing a quick yet impactful opportunity for medical professionals to engage in meaningful discussions.
3. Who can participate in Quick Connect Huddles?
Quick Connect Huddles are open to all members of the medical team, including physicians, nurses, residents, and other healthcare professionals. However, to get the most benefit, we suggest huddles within the same disciplines, ie: nurses with nurses, doctors with doctors, etc.
4. What topics are covered in Quick Connect Huddles?
Quick Connect Huddles cover various well-being topics relevant to healthcare professionals, such as stress management, resilience, and work-life balance.
5. How are Quick Connect Huddles conducted?
Quick Connect Huddles follow a simple format: Read, Reflect, Connect. Participants read a curated article, engage in reflective exercises, and share insights to foster a supportive community.
6. What are the benefits of participating in Quick Connect Huddles?
Participating in Quick Connect Huddles can lead to reduced burnout, enhanced well-being, improved job satisfaction, and strengthened team connections.
7. What problem is Quick Connect Huddles solving?
Quick Connect Huddles address the critical issue of burnout among physicians and healthcare professionals. With one of the highest suicide rates in any profession, physicians urgently need a means to connect with colleagues and combat feelings of isolation.
8. How can our organization get started with Quick Connect Huddles?
Reach out to our team to learn more and discuss customizing Quick Connect Huddles for your organization. We'll provide all the resources and support needed to implement the program successfully.
The Solution we are Offering
Elevate your physicians' well-being with 12 months of our custom Quick Connect Huddles. This ready-to-engage package provides curated content from our QC team to foster connections among colleagues and help reduce feelings of isolation and burnout.
Let’s together take proactive steps to address burnout and prioritize the mental health of physicians.
Are you in crisis?
Call or text 988 or text TALK to 741741 if you are feeling overwhelmed.
You are not alone in your struggles. There is hope for the future. Our world needs you.
Recognizing the alarming rates of burnout and suicide among physicians, Quick Connect Huddles was designed by a physician to foster his own's team collegiality, connection, and compassion. And now Dr. Alger wants to share this same format and have it available for all doctors to help reduce burnout and improve collegiality.
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