Workforce Resiliency

WellSpan Evangelical Community Hospital introduced the Safe to Care initiative to address staff concerns about rising patient agitation, workplace insecurity, and insufficient training. The program includes workplace violence prevention training, updated safety policies, enhanced signage, upgraded monitoring systems, and collaboration with law enforcement. As a result, over 2,000 staff members received training, including active shooter drills, with zero lost time due to workplace violence and a 52% increase in reported incidents to Public Safety, reflecting improved reporting and awareness.

Lucy Corr, which offers its residents varied levels of care according to their healthcare needs, also strives to encourage open communication between staff and management that fosters a strong workplace environment. Programs provided by leadership to maintain high morale among staff include a survey platform to encourage feedback at different increments throughout the year, regular rewards for hard work, flexible scheduling, an onsite fitness center, continuous education and numerous other benefits.

A recent pilot held at the facility to improve workforce resiliency consisted of two phases, including identifying trends and areas for improvement and then implementing a plan to address areas of opportunity and a timeframe for reassessment. Interviews conducted by Health Quality Innovators with staff garnered positive feedback and reflected a sense of appreciation. Lucy Corr continuously evaluates their initiatives to ensure their programs to support staff are effective and align with their needs.

Saint Francis Health System (SFHS) launched the CARE Team program to support healthcare workers after experiencing traumatic events. This initiative emerged after a tragic mass shooting in June 2022 (which resulted in the loss of four lives) and aims to help “second victims”—clinicians affected by these events—process their emotions and recover. The program offers peer support through trained volunteers who provide one-on-one assistance, focusing on emotional recovery and resilience. The CARE Team’s mission is to “provide care to renew hope,” emphasizing support for healthcare workers across all departments.

Eight training sessions have resulted in 43 trained peer volunteers. The resilience index increased by 0.04, rising from 4.19 to 4.23, exceeding the national healthcare average. Retention has also improved with turnover decreasing from 19.5% to 17.8%. SFHS continues to receive peer support requests and deploy CARE Team volunteers.