Putting the “Care” in Healthcare: Improve Employee Engagement and Quality of Care

As a healthcare keynote speaker, author, and relatability expert, I’ve seen firsthand the effectiveness of a highly engaged team. And with these tips in mind, you can build just that.

The quality of care your healthcare organization provides is largely dependent on how engaged your employees are. Engaged employees are committed to their work, feel valued (and valuable!), and are motivated to bring their best to work every day.

These are the healthcare workers that have a profoundly positive impact on the patients they serve. And they’re your company’s best asset.

But here’s the real talk. Even before the pandemic, only 44% of hospital workers were “highly” engaged in their work. That means the majority of workers in some of the most critical healthcare facilities in the country were not fully committed to their patients. Yikes, right?!

Today, as healthcare companies are grappling with labor shortages, longer hours, and increasing pressures, I have no doubt the number of highly engaged healthcare workers has dropped even further. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Greater healthcare employee engagement isn’t just good for your people—it’s good for patients.

The data is astounding, revealing the links between healthcare employee engagement, patient safety, and quality of care. Take a look at these statistics:

The biggest factor in predicting the patient mortality rate at hospitals? Nurse engagement.

In 2005, Gallup conducted a detailed study of 200 hospitals. The team was hoping to better understand what factors contribute to the quality of medical care offered. And one key factor clearly stood out: Nurse engagement is the #1 predictor of patient mortality. Not staff size, technology availability, or training— but engagement.

I know a lot has changed since 2005. But there’s no question employee engagement remains a key factor in keeping patients happy, healthy, and safe. And it makes sense, right? Engaged employees are careful and compassionate employees.

Just a 1% increase in healthcare employee engagement = 7% less readmissions.

Want your patients to get better and stay better? Boost healthcare employee engagement by just 1%. And according to a longitudinal analysis by the Harvard Business Review, that tiny bump in engagement doesn’t just reduce readmissions, it also decreases hospital-acquired complications by 7%!

To me, this stat makes putting effort into boosting your employee engagement a no-brainer. Where else can a 1% change lead to a 7% improvement in your organization? You think, I’ll wait!

Greater engagement also decreases malpractice claims.

Hospitals with lower employee engagement rates pay an average of $1.1 million more in malpractice claims, when compared to facilities with “engaged” or “highly engaged” employees.

To me, that stat reveals the strong link between engaged workers, healthier patients, safer treatments, and a stronger bottom line for your healthcare business.

Wondering how to increase employee engagement in healthcare organizations? Do this, not that!

As a full-time author, speaker, and emcee, I’ve sat through more leadership presentations than I can count. And there are three employee engagement tips I hear healthcare keynote speakers suggest that make me absolutely cringe every time I hear them! Because they don’t increase healthcare employee engagement— they push your workers away.

So let me set the record straight once and for all. If you want to keep your best talent, boost healthcare employee engagement, and help your staff members love the work they do, here’s what works, and what doesn’t!

❌Aggressive leadership

✅Drop the boss act and start acting like a corner coach. Your healthcare workers are really going through it right now. The last thing they need is more pressure and strong-armed initiatives. Instead, lean into the mentorship model with a coaching-centric leadership style or peer-to-peer support.

❌Annual reviews with one-way communication

✅Can I tell you what works 1000x better? Creating space for frequent and open two-way communication. The kind where both leaders and team members have the space to honestly share, with the goal of making real improvements. The best performance reviews are the ones that highlight each employee’s wins and opportunities, and include active listening with the intention of understanding. Open doors open hearts— and do wonders to your engagement rates.

❌”Fixing things” with pay increases

✅Don’t get me wrong, wages matter! Every single worker, from the front lines to the back office, deserves to earn a competitive rate for their effort. But what matters even more? Helping your team find purposeful work. Meaning beats money nine times out of ten.

Looking for a healthcare keynote speaker to improve your employee engagement— and quality of care?

I believe the best healthcare keynote speakers boost employee engagement through stronger personal connections, better relationships, and greater collaboration. And when you book me for your next healthcare event, I’ll show your team just how to do it. Ready to lower your walls and raise your relationships? Click here to book your healthcare keynote.