Results from the National Taskforce for Humanity in Healthcare's Integrated, Organizational Pilot Program to Improve Well-Being

Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf. 2021 Sep;47(9):581-590. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjq.2021.05.010. Epub 2021 Jun 7.

Abstract

Background: In health care, burnout remains a persistent and significant problem. Evidence now exists that organizational initiatives are vital to address health care worker (HCW) well-being in a sustainable way, though system-level interventions are pursued infrequently.

Methods: Between November 2018 and May 2020, researchers engaged five health system and physician practice sites to participate in an organizational pilot intervention that integrated evidence-based approaches to well-being, including a comprehensive culture assessment, leadership and team development, and redesign of daily workflow with an emphasis on cultivating positive emotions.

Results: All primary and secondary outcome measures demonstrated directionally concordant improvement, with the primary outcome of emotional exhaustion (0-100 scale, lower better; 43.12 to 36.42, p = 0.037) and secondary outcome of likelihood to recommend the participating department's workplace as a good place to work (1-10 scale, higher better; 7.66 to 8.20, p = 0.037) being statistically significant. Secondary outcomes of emotional recovery (0-100 scale, higher better; 76.60 to 79.53, p = 0.20) and emotional thriving (0-100 scale, higher better; 76.70 to 79.23, p = 0.27) improved but were not statistically significant.

Conclusion: An integrated, skills-based approach, focusing on team culture and interactions, leadership, and workflow redesign that cultivates positive emotions was associated with improvements in HCW well-being. This study suggests that simultaneously addressing multiple drivers of well-being can have significant impacts on burnout and workplace environment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Burnout, Professional* / prevention & control
  • Delivery of Health Care
  • Humans
  • Leadership
  • Pilot Projects
  • Workplace