Outpatient Surgery Magazine, providing current information on Surgical Services, Surgical Facility Administration, Outpatient Surgery News and Trends, OR Excellence and more.
Issue link: http://outpatientsurgery.uberflip.com/i/1316512
1 8 • O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 0 L ike most surgical lead- ers, you're probably eager to put 2020 in the rearview mirror and start fresh with next year's initiatives and goals. The problem is, so many surgical staffs are still reeling from the pandemic that shows no signs of slowing any time soon. COVID-19 has strained the culture of healthcare facili- ties nationwide and wreaked havoc on the mental and physi- cal well-being of staffs every- where. Addressing the follow- ing needs among your team will help them remain focused and engaged during what continues to be an incredibly challenging environment in which to work, and will prepare both your facility and staff to more readily address future challenges. A feeling of safety If at any time during the pandemic your staff felt unsafe due to a real or perceived lack of resources and equipment (N95s, gloves and gowns), you need to earn back their trust. One way: Conduct a "lessons learned" review of how your organization responded during the most trying moments of the pandemic. It's essentially an after- action review of what took place, what went well, what responses you want to retain and, of course, what issues you never want to face again (see "Checking in With Your Staff"). The key is to make the review more of an appreciative inquiry, a process that emphasizes the positives, and avoids harsh blame or judgment aimed at a particular per- son or policy. Once you understand the details and degree of your staff's most pressing concerns, you can craft policies and protocols to address and alle- viate them. Emotional well-being Any type of behavioral change, even subtle ones, could signal something more serious is affect- ing your staff. Watch for signs of apathy, irritability 1 2 How to Reinvigorate a Reeling Workforce Focus on fixing these common concerns among stressed out staff. Staffing Martin Wright | South Bend, Ind. STRAIGHT TALK Healthcare leaders earn the trust of frontline staff by communicating with authenticity, empathy and logic. Megan Nolan