Atrium Health’s Compassion Champions Program to Support EMS Mental and Physical Well-being

The initiative gives EMTs access to peer mental health support, a dedicated zen room, and a therapy pet.

Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Atrium Health is pushing it’s internal program called the Compassion Champions to better support the mental and physical health of its emergency medical services personnel.

The program gives EMTs access to mental health care from fellow EMTs, a dedicated zen room, and a therapy pet. The initiative comes in recognition of the unique psychological toll the job takes. EMTs can experience in a single day what the average person would encounter in a lifetime of highly traumatic events, known as sentinel events, such as deaths and major car accidents.

Bud Owens, Atrium’s vice president of mobile services in Georgia, said he believes the program makes Atrium a pioneer among EMS providers in the state.

“I believe we are probably the first EMS service in Georgia who has stepped out. And we have developed internal resources that can meet the needs for our employees, our teammates. When they face the challenges that they face every day, and they know where they can turn to,” Owens said.

The Compassion Champions program is part of a growing movement focused on both the mental and physical well-being of EMTs, with Atrium making a deliberate effort to help its first responders sustain longer careers in the industry.