Hopefully by the time you read this, Irma will seem like a distant memory. But I am writing it just days after the storm cut through Florida. Despite the devastation, it was inspiring to see neighbor helping neighbor, government offices coordinating recovery efforts, utility companies on all night shifts, business slowly reopening and an overall sense that the storm could knock us down but not out.

There was a similar sense of community witnessed weeks before in the aftermath of Harvey in Texas. Personally it was all truly inspirational. One thing professionally inspiring was the team of Associate employees my company has in Miami. We asked each of them to come to work Tuesday morning following the storm (if it was safe to do so). Despite almost all of them having no electricity and a debris field littering their lawns. 99% of them made it into work to separate, wash and iron medical linen for our customers. Not to brag, but the ImageFIRST team in Miami gets how important what they do is to not only our clients, but also the patients.

When my colleagues ask me how this sort of dedication is possible, I answer with one word “Engagement.”

Our Associates feel a deep sense of duty to what they do which is why they all came in. It took years to create this culture, but the challenge to the leadership team at that location has always been, to get our team to L-O-V-E coming to work. If they do, they will take pride in achieving their best. So how important is staff engagement in your organization. There is wise saying, your patients will NEVER be happier than your employees. There is a direct correlation between the two. It is always great when focusing on one thing has a ripple effect on multiple items. When you look to drive outcomes, scores, safety, KPIs and an unbelievable patient care, look no further than staff engagement and creating a culture others will envy. Be safe!