Mac’s Safety Space: Staff environmental support—it can make a difference

As we make the turn from Spring to Summer, a (relatively) brief item to consider as you start your budget planning activities…

While the focus of compliance tends to revolve around rules, regulations and such, I think it’s clear that one of the greatest challenges in healthcare is the attraction and retention of staff. As I think about the hundreds of hospitals and other healthcare facilities I’ve visited over the last 20-odd years (some of them very odd), when I think of the design of staff spaces, there tends not to be a lot of “wow” moments. But I think wowing folks may end up being an important consideration, particularly in the “hospital of the future.”

The folks at the Center For Health Design have been giving this topic a great deal of thought and I think you might find some useful information on their website. To that end, they’ve created a “Staff Wellbeing Toolbox,” because, it says, “Creating spaces that not only support patient outcomes, but that support staff fulfillment, resilience and organizational commitment will be required for success as the healthcare industry seeks to sustain itself in the midst of high patient volumes and high operating expenses.”  

The last few years, if nothing else, has taught us the risks of the full-immersion-at-work dynamic, and the increasing benefit of creating work spaces (and carving out spaces where work is not the primary focus) that are less fraught with hubbub—it may be the difference between maintaining a solid workforce in health care and a continuation of the exodus of experienced staff. I used to chuckle at the portrayals of tech startup companies with play areas, etc., and I’m not so sure that they weren’t on to something…

At any rate, I encourage you to check out the Staff Wellbeing Toolbox – no idea is too big or too small if it ends up saving the day: https://www.healthdesign.org/staff-wellbeing-toolbox .

Enjoy your solstice, everybody!

About the Author: Steve MacArthur is a safety consultant with Chartis Clinical Quality Solutions (formerly known as The Greeley Company) in Danvers, Mass. He brings more than 30 years of healthcare management and consulting experience to his work with hospitals, physician offices, and ambulatory care facilities across the country. He is the author of HCPro's Hospital Safety Director's Handbook and is contributing editor for Healthcare Safety Leader. Contact Steve at stevemacsafetyspace@gmail.com.