A disengaged workforce has major consequences in just about any industry. When that industry is healthcare, the consequences become even more dire. Our guest on this week’s edition of the Healthcare Experience Matters Podcast is Katie Owens, President of the Healthcare Experience Foundation.

Katie shares the latest research on how employee disengagement contributes to the underlying causes of major issues in delivering top-quality care to patients and provides us with guidance on addressing these problems.

“Engaged employees are much less likely to experience signs and symptoms of emotional exhaustion and burnout. On the flip side, disengaged employees are three times more likely to exhibit signs and symptoms of compassion fatigue and burnout,” Katie told us.

Employee engagement acts as a shield against the relentless emotional exhaustion and burnout that can trouble individuals in our demanding profession.

“Given the high stakes complexity of health care interactions, when we have team members who are disengaged, we have very real safety and experience consequences that can do real harm to our patients and their loved ones,” Katie said.

Every interaction with our patients holds massive importance from diagnosis to treatment. The unified collaboration among staff is essential for delivering optimal care. However, when disengagement takes hold, it introduces a host of challenges that can literally mean life or death.

As we learn on today’s program, new research points to the percentage of disengaged employees having doubled since 2019.

“Measurement is our best tool to establish our directional strategies so that we are equipping our leaders to be really targeted in our interventions to stabilize, retain and engage our workforce,” Katie said.

Without measurement you simply cannot get a realistic grasp on the problem.

Measurement acts as a diagnostic tool, allowing organizations to gain valuable insights into the baseline levels of employee engagement. It helps us understand the specific areas where disengagement may be prevalent, helping leaders pinpoint the underlying issues that hinder workforce motivation and commitment.

Measurement equips leaders with the knowledge needed to tailor interventions to the specific needs of their workforce. Once measurement has taken place the next step is to address the sources of dissatisfaction and frustration to build that culture of engagement.

As Katie illustrates in today’s interview, much of the problem boils down to a lack of appreciation and recognition.

“I think that’s what we’re missing. Either we go towards focusing on gratitude and pretending that the hard things aren’t happening, or we focus on just removing the barriers but not really inspiring our teams to fill more of those daily moments of joy, gratitude, and purpose,” she said.

Boosting morale and motivation is key as it fosters a positive work culture, where individuals feel valued and supported.

Recognizing the hard work of physicians and staff creates a strong ripple effect that positively impacts patients and their loved ones. It promotes collaboration, enhances the quality of care, fosters empathy and compassion, and contributes to a more stable and dedicated workforce, all of which lead to improved patient experiences and outcomes.

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