Introduction
Since its development and validation at Mayo Clinic over a decade ago, the Well-Being Index has empowered thousands of healthcare organizations with research-backed insights and tools to measure distress, identify risks, and drive meaningful change.
Each year, we analyze hundreds of thousands of Well-Being Index assessments to create the State of Well-Being Report—a comprehensive look at key trends, risks, and opportunities in healthcare. The 2024 report is built on data from over 97,000 assessments, providing year-over-year insights on burnout and mental health, industry-wide benchmarks, and a preview of the powerful reporting capabilities of the Well-Being Index.
These findings offer a data-driven snapshot of the challenges and opportunities facing healthcare organizations today—and how leaders like you can take action.
Explore the insights ahead. If you’d like to discuss how this data applies to your workforce or how to implement the Well-Being Index at your organization, visit www.mywellbeingindex.org to access a free demo or speak with an expert.
The following data analysis is organized by practice type and can be navigated using the ‘Insights’ dropdown or the button below. Thank you for exploring the 2024-2025 State of Well-Being Report.
Who Assessed?
The State of Well-Being 2024-2025 data comes from Well-Being Index assessments completed in the United States from January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024. For some reports, we compare the 2024 data to the previous year. Participants who completed these assessments come from a wide variety of healthcare organizations.
97,490 assessments were collected in 2024
Number of Assessments By Occupation
APP
8,388
Dentist
1,398
Employee 25,500
Med Student
4,846
Nurse
13,975
Pharmacy
7,267
Physician
23,498
Resident & Fellow
12,618
Number of Assessments By Gender Identity
Gender Diverse
472
No Answer
796
Male
28,430
Female
65,658
Note: Some organizations do not offer the Gender Identity question
The State of Well-Being Analysis
The State of Well-Being Analysis includes 2 types of reports to indicate distress and well-being including Mean Distress Score and Well-Being Snapshot.
Mean Distress Score
Mean Distress score uses a single number to represent an entire group. This method won’t show nuance within a group, but can provide a quick indication if distress is increasing or decreasing as a whole among a group.
The Mean Distress Score scale is -2 to 9 for all groups except Medical Student & Resident / Fellow which is 0 to 7. The higher the number, the higher the indication of distress among the group.
Well-Being Snapshot
The Well-Being Snapshot stratifies assessment results across four categories: Distressed, Struggling, Okay, and Thriving. Based on individual Well-Being Index scores, the Snapshot shows the distribution of specific groups across the entire continuum between distressed and thriving at a specific moment in time.
Likelihood of Outcomes Grid
The Likelihood of Outcomes Grid below shows the likelihood or risk of outcomes with a Well-being Index Assessment score associated with each category. The example below is for Advanced Practice Providers and each Role has a tailored Likelihood of Outcomes Grid.
Hotspots & Brightspots: Identifying Areas of Concern & Success
Understanding where to focus well-being efforts is critical for organizations aiming to drive meaningful change. While the Well-Being Snapshot already ranks groups based on distress levels, large organizations may still struggle to determine where to act first. Hotspot and Brightspot reporting refines this process, helping leaders pinpoint areas of highest distress and uncover what’s working well. The criteria offered below is intended to provide a starting point, but it is recommended that organizations adjust this criteria based on their specific goals and resources available.
Hotspots: Identifying Areas in Need of Support 🔥
Hotspots help organizations prioritize intervention by highlighting groups with the highest levels of distress. These groups meet criteria such as:
- 50% or more of assessment responses in the Distressed & Struggling categories
- At least 10 responses (or a representative sample of the group)
By recognizing these high-risk areas, leaders can direct resources where support is needed most to mitigate burnout, reduce turnover, and improve workplace well-being.
Brightspots: Learning from Success ☀️
Brightspots highlight teams with exceptional well-being, allowing organizations to identify and replicate successful strategies. These groups meet criteria such as:
- 60% or more of assessment responses in the Thriving & Okay categories
- At least 10 responses (or a representative sample of the group)
By understanding what’s working, organizations can replicate and scale effective strategies across departments and teams.
By leveraging Hotspots and Brightspots, organizations can move beyond broad assessments and take targeted, data-driven action—addressing distress where it’s most needed while amplifying successful well-being initiatives.
What To Look For
When working with organizations, the Well-Being Index Success Team provides expert guidance on selecting custom questions alongside the validated Well-Being Index assessment. The goal is to go beyond measuring distress—to uncover why distress is occurring and which groups are most affected.
When analyzing Well-Being Index reports, here’s what we consider:
- ✅ Changes Over Time – Is there a noticeable shift in well-being compared to previous reporting periods? Are distress levels rising or improving?
- ✅ Role-Based Comparisons – Among roles that share similar work environments, what factors might explain differences in well-being and distress levels?
- ✅ Organizational Trends – Do these findings align with what you see on the ground within your organization? Are there unexpected discrepancies?
- ✅ Influencing Factors – What personal, team-based, organizational, or national factors could be impacting well-being—either positively or negatively?
- ✅ Targeted Interventions – Based on the data, what interventions could be effective in reducing distress for specific groups?
- ✅ Measuring Impact – Which interventions from 2024 were most effective in improving well-being and reducing distress?
- ✅ Cross-Survey Comparisons – Do internal surveys within your organization reveal similar trends when segmented by demographics, department, or role?
By asking these questions, organizations can translate Well-Being Index data into meaningful action, ensuring that well-being initiatives are evidence-based, targeted, and effective.
2024 State of Well-Being Reports By Practice
From leading national health systems to independent hospitals, small groups, and associations, the Well-Being Index provides the data and tools needed to Go Beyond Burnout. View and download the Well-Being Index case studies below.
It's time to take evidence-based action to foster well-being.
Page Citation
MLA9
“State of Well-Being 2024.” My Well-Being Index, www.mywellbeingindex.org/state-of-well-being-2024.
APA7
Well-Being Index. (n.d.). State of Well-Being 2024. My Well-Being Index. www.mywellbeingindex.org/state-of-well-being-2024.