EP. 152: Beyond Wellness Programs: Building Well-Being Into Daily Work

Well-being cannot be treated as a separate initiative. It has to be built into how healthcare organizations operate every day.

In this episode, Alexa DeFeo, Enterprise Director of Colleague Well-Being, and Nicole Escobedo, Senior Director of Clinician Well-Being at Jefferson Health, share how their organization supports the well-being of more than 65,000 employees across a growing health system. They explain why well-being requires both strong benefits and operational changes that reduce administrative burden, improve workflows, and enable clinicians to work at the top of their licenses. Alexa and Nicole highlight initiatives including ambient AI, inbox management, leadership development, peer support, lactation support, and flexible communication practices tailored to different workforce populations. They also discuss the importance of collaboration, shared accountability, measurable outcomes, and executive support in creating sustainable change.

Tune in and learn how healthcare organizations can embed well-being into everyday decisions, reduce burnout, and create a healthier experience for employees, patients, and communities.

About Alexa DeFeo:Alexa DeFeo is the Enterprise Director of Colleague Well-Being at Jefferson Health, where she supports the well-being strategy and benefits available to approximately 65,000 employees and their families. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Rowan University in health promotion, fitness management, and wellness and lifestyle management. Alexa is also pursuing a doctorate in strategic leadership. Her work focuses on creating collaborative, enterprise-wide strategies that support the physical, emotional, occupational, and overall well-being of Jefferson colleagues.

About Nicole Escobedo:Nicole Escobedo is the Senior Director of Clinician Well-Being in Jefferson Health’s Office of Well-Being and Professionalism. Drawing from her background in education and operations, she serves as a voice for physicians, advanced practice clinicians, residents, fellows, and nurses. Nicole works with clinical and operational leaders to redesign workflows, reduce administrative burdens, strengthen professionalism, and create systemic changes that improve satisfaction and well-being across the organization.

What You’ll Learn In This Episode:

Well-being is both a benefits responsibility and an operational responsibility that must address how employees experience their work.

Administrative burdens, inefficient workflows, and repetitive tasks can steadily erode job satisfaction and contribute to burnout.

Large health systems can support diverse employee populations through shared accountability while still adapting programs to local needs.

Ambient AI, improved inbox management, and EHR workflow changes can reduce documentation burden and help clinicians focus more fully on patients.

Well-being programs are most effective when they include leadership development, professionalism support, mental health resources, peer connection, and practical workplace policies.

Organizations should measure tangible outcomes such as program participation, reduced after-hours work, faster note closure, and employee feedback rather than relying on burnout alone.