Burnout, low retention, rising staff sickness, difficulty in attracting talent, and the increasing reliance on agencies are all profoundly impacting patients, staff, and hospital finances.
Evidence shows pay alone will not address this.
Despite these challenges, staff aspire and are expected to deliver exceptional care and patient experiences, further adding to workload stresses and the burnout crisis.
Complaints and negative online reviews dominate the narrative with unintended consequences, and the multitude of wellbeing initiatives and Apps have not worked.
Staff feel their effort goes unnoticed and makes no difference.
Wellbeing initiatives and Apps are often fleeting and unengaged, tokenistic or unsustainable, and together with a focus on complaints, staff feel their efforts go unnoticed and make no difference. In reality, when staff experience burnout or anxiety, they actually disengage from traditional wellbeing initiatives and Apps.
To effectively address workforce challenges at scale and maximise Return On Investment (ROI), we need a programme that harnesses what really matters to drive engagement across the entire health service, including those behind the scenes.
A well-motivated healthcare workforce is key to meeting the continuous and changing demand of healthcare services (Buchan, 2000).
The relationship between staff morale and patient experience is symbiotic, and the power and ability for patients to motivate and remind staff just how much they matter, has been systemically underestimated.
When staff find joy and satisfaction in their work, they are most likely to contribute to a positive patient experience, and the recognition of their contribution further reinforces their sense of purpose and wellbeing.
“The significant majority of patient encounters are positive and patients are grateful for the care they receive but we don’t focus on capturing and sharing that gratitude and positivity with our health care professional teams” – Richard Jenkins, Chief Medical Officer, PwC
Praise and social approval have proven to be critical factors in staff motivation and purpose. BIMPONG et al 2019
Patients and their families can now send messages of appreciation directly to staff mobile phones in real time, creating a lasting impact on staff and a rewarding experience for patients.
No gesture is more genuine nor meaningful than a patient’s appreciation for their care. This is the most powerful yet largely untapped motivator and there is also enormous value in recognising and learning from this.
Patients want to ensure staff feel valued and motivated, knowing that motivated staff are more resilient, engaged, and deliver better care.
Join our growing healthcare community Today!
