A culture of employee recognition can help your organization increase employee engagement and retention. Recognition is the timely acknowledgment of outstanding performance and sets a good example for team members. Providing timely and appropriate employee recognition has many benefits, including increased job satisfaction, reduced turnover, and improved patient care. This article will discuss the importance of employee recognition and the benefits of monetary awards. We’ll also discuss how employee recognition affects morale. Let’s dive in!
Employee Recognition
The benefits of Healthcare Staff Employee Recognition Programs are many. Despite high employee turnover and low job satisfaction, healthcare organizations should consider establishing a culture of recognition to encourage the right behaviors and initiatives. By recognizing good performance, healthcare organizations can improve the quality of patient care, increase market share, and retain the best employees. To make employee recognition a reality, here are some tips:
First, consider your recipients. Identify the people who deserve recognition, and then choose awards based on their preferences. For example, some employees love public recognition, while others prefer more private appreciation. Don’t impose rigid rules. Instead, try to find a way to reward each individual based on their merits. A Healthcare employee recognition program can help reduce stress and boost job satisfaction. And it’s not just for the sake of the health of patients.
Impact on Patient Experience
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has several new provisions measuring patient experience. For example, health systems participating in the Medicare Shared Savings Program must use the CAHPS Survey for Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) to evaluate patient experiences. These results will be used for public reporting on the Physician Compare website and in calculating shared savings. While some leaders question the value of measuring patient experience, there is growing evidence to support its importance to the overall quality of care.
Employee recognition programs are a way to build a positive workplace culture and align behaviors with hospital goals. A successful program includes recognition, appreciation, feedback, and incentives based on the organizational mission and vision. Awards can be issued for years of service, performance, or employee of the month. More sophisticated healthcare systems may also offer employee referral rewards, shift incentives, and wellness awards. Employee recognition programs should be mobile, social, and easily accessible.
Value of Monetary Awards
If you’re considering starting an employee recognition program, there are many benefits of monetary awards for healthcare employees. Six out of 10 employees say that receiving a reward motivates them to do their best work. Employees are also more likely to stay in a job if they feel appreciated. In addition, healthcare employee recognition programs can increase the satisfaction of employees, which leads to higher productivity.
The most important factor for an award is how well it fits with the organization’s mission. For example, the clinic’s mission states “to educate,” which is reinforced through local employee recognition programs. While these awards can seem small, they significantly impact employee satisfaction, which improves patient outcomes and the overall experience.
Impact on Employee Morale
Although the concept of an employee recognition program seems counter-intuitive, healthcare organizations must recognize their employees’ hard work and commitment. Investing in a formal recognition program is an important investment that will benefit not only employees but patients. Burnout has long been an issue in healthcare, and a recent pandemic of COVID-19 compounded the problem. The result was that typical burnout levels increased, and employees experienced feelings of psychological distress. An ECRI Institute study concluded that almost half of all healthcare workers experienced some form of burnout.
