Optimizing Resilience for Rural VA Rehabilitation Clinicians

This project aims to support rehabilitation therapists in rural healthcare settings by providing education and training in evidence-based resilience strategies to mitigate the effects of work-related stress and burnout. The project will evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of a remote Mindfulness Based Intervention program, assessing its impact on clinician resilience, work-related stress, burnout, and job retention. Given the compounded stressors faced by rural healthcare providers—exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic—this training will help clinicians build psychological resilience, a key protective factor against burnout. Using feedback from clinicians through surveys and focus groups, we will refine the training program to ensure it meets their needs and can be effectively implemented in rural settings.