Mindfulness app helps hospital workers find calm
Hospital staff can now pause, unwind and refocus during their busy day thanks to a new mindfulness app developed by Alfred Health.
Deputy Director of General Medicine at The Alfred Dr Harry Gibbs said the app, called Treat, offers on-demand access to a simple and practical tool to help doctors, nurses and allied health professionals manage some of the pressures of their work through meditation.
“Working in health care can be emotionally and physically demanding at times, and finding new ways to support staff health and wellbeing is important,” Dr Gibbs said.
“The free app was developed by two of our junior doctors, and builds on Alfred Health’s successful series of face-to-face hour-long mindfulness and meditation sessions.
“The app is based on gentle yoga movement and stress awareness to help cope with some of the stressful situations that come with work, as well as everyday life,” he said.
The app features more than 30 different guided meditations and is unique because users can find benefit in as little as 40 seconds – or choose a session up to 40 minutes long.
The Alfred’s Executive Director of People and Culture Chris McLoughlin said well-balanced staff provide great patient care.
“Our staff have a tough job, and Treat is one of many ways we encourage and help them rediscover calm and focus in the middle of their busy day at work, or at home.”
“The app was developed to make mindfulness sessions more accessible to our staff, but anyone can try it, and will find benefit.”
Treat was conceived at Alfred Health and developed by medical interns Jennifer Tang and Jarrel Seah. The pair impressed Microsoft co-Founder Bill Gates in 2014, after winning an international competition for their work on Eyenaemia – an app which helps screen users for anaemia by analysing data taken from a selfie.
Download the Treat app from iTunes and Google Play now.
