HUP’s recently renovated House Staff Wellness Center on 1 Dulles provides the hospital’s fellows and residents with a place to rest, work and exercise during their long shifts at the hospital. The refurbished center occupies the same space as the original housestaff center, which, with its old lockers and carpeting, was badly in need of updating. “Most people didn’t even know it existed.” said Alex Bonnel, MD, of Emergency Medicine, and president of the House Staff Governing Council.
Based on input from housestaff, the new center includes two soundproof rooms with chairs that pull out into beds, computers for charting, an exercise room with treadmill, elliptical and weights, a lounge with a TV, and a lactation room for new moms. The project came to fruition thanks to contributions from several sources.
Bonnel said the Center is clearly a hit. “House staff started using it before it even officially opened!” he said. “There’s a loss of physician lounges across the U.S. and this is bringing it back. Physicians from different specialties can interact and collaborate.” Even while working out! “It’s a great addition to our culture.”
Only those with a house staff ID have access to the Center but you can take a quick peak at https://bit.ly/2FBvGIb.