UPMC Lititz Internal Medicine – Escape Room Adventures at The Hideout: May 2, 2023

The internal medicine residents did not let the rainy weather get in the way of wellness and had a quick change of plans from a mini golf outing to challenging their teamwork skills in an Escape Room. With their smarts and luck on their side, they were able to escape with ample time to spare.

Results/Outcome Survey – UPMC Lititz Internal Medicine May 2, 2023
1. What was the general understanding of the purpose of the project/program by participants?
It was protected time set aside for the residents to spend quality time with each other outside of the hospital.

2. During the project/program, what tangible tools or strategies were demonstrated or taught (i.e. coping skills for wellness and life balance)
There were multiple benefits in working together to complete an Escape Room challenge. Not only did we get to have fun and de-stress with our co-residents, but we also further developed our skills in problem-solving, communication, and productivity. Working with a time limit added an element of excitement and piecing the puzzles and clues as a team boosted morale. There was an emphasis on delegating and prioritizing tasks for efficiency which can be further applied to our budding careers as physicians as well.

3. What word(s) best describes how you feel when you are experiencing stress or well-being imbalance?
Overwhelmed, impatient, anxious, worried, low self-esteem, fatigued

4. What suggestions do you have to increase the probability of success for the project/program for other institutions?
In terms of planning, sending out an interest survey to have residents vote on their preferred event leads to increased attendance and enjoyment by all. We also decided on having the event take place during the weekday due to ease of scheduling.

5. What do you intend to do upon returning to work that you learned and practiced during the activity, that will improve your response to stressful situations.
This wellness event emphasizes the importance of rest, building meaningful connections, and taking care of yourself. It was also an exercise in learning to accept and adapt to the situation at hand. With rainy weather, the event was changed on short notice, but we were still able to hold an event that was enjoyed by all. Furthermore, we have an even better understanding of each other’s strengths and capabilities, solidifying the knowledge that our co-residents support and trust each other to complete the tasks at hand.