(PS13-B50) Intensive Virtual Evidence-based Psychotherapy (EBP) Team (iVET): Program Evaluation to Assess Employee Burnout and Job Satisfaction

Background 

The Intensive Virtual Evidence Based Psychotherapy (EBP) Team (iVET) for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a 3-week program and includes three main components: 1) massed Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD, 2) Whole Health and Wellness classes, and 3) individual Health Coaching to address personal wellness goals. iVET delivers P</span>rolonged Exposure in a massed or accelerated format. This approach, sometimes referred to as an intensive outpatient track (IOT), has been shown to be feasible, acceptable, and effective with increased completion rates in comparison to traditional (one or two sessions per week) model of PE (Rauch et al., 2020; Sherrill et al., 2020; Yamokoski et al., 2022). Consistent with previous research, p</span>reliminary data indicate the iVET for PTSD is feasible, acceptable and effective with Veterans reporting significant improvement in quality of life and high satisfaction with their MH services (Aosved et al., 2022).  In addition to assessing Veteran outcomes, it is also important to evaluate how this model of care impacts staff sustainability and burnout, especially given recent findings that organizational support for EBP delivery reduced burnout risk prior to but not during the pandemic and that comprehensive efforts to reduce burnout are critically needed (Rosen et al., 2022).  

Objective 

The primary purpose of this project is to evaluate how delivering EBPs for PTSD in a massed or accelerated format (I.e., iVET) impacts employee burnout and job satisfaction.  

Method 

At the time of this project, iVET included two clinical psychologists, a licensed clinical social worker, a registered nurse/health coach, and a program support assistant. Employee burnout and job satisfaction was measured via self-report using the ProQOL Health (Center for Victims of Torture, 2021), a 30-item, self-report questionnaire for health care workers that evaluates compassion satisfaction, perceived support, burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and moral distress. The pre-data was gathered retrospectively. The iVET staff were guided through a visualization meditation intended to recall level of burnout and job satisfaction they had the 1 month prior to starting iVET. Team members then completed the ProQOL Health as if completing 1 month prior to working with iVET. After one week, team members completed the ProQOL Health based on their past 30-days in iVET and responded to four survey questions to capture qualitative feedback. Comparison between pre and post iVET implementation will be made.  

Results 

iVET providers and staff reported significant improvement in perceived support; and, significant reduction in burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and moral distress. In the qualitative feedback, iVET staff commented on improvement in wellbeing, finding joy in their work, improved mood and sleep, reduced anxiety, increased motivation, renewed enjoyment working for the VA, and a strong appreciation for incorporating mindfulness practices (a component of Whole Health) into the daily workflow. 

Conclusions 

Findings suggest that delivering EBPs for PTSD in a massed or accelerated format is feasible and acceptable among staff and appears to contribute to reduced burnout, improved job satisfaction, and improved employee wellness.