When It Comes to Patient Care – REALLY Thank Your Team

Anybody else ready for 2020 to end? I can almost hear the collective “Absolutely!” What a trying year for not only our country, but the entire world.

 

This column’s publication came right in the middle of the holiday season: after Thanksgiving and before the New Year. The former is when we as a country give gratitude and the latter is when many reflect on the past year and plan for a year of new beginnings.

 

Where am I going with this? Although everyone has been impacted by COVID-19, our teams are a group who were greatly affected. When we as leaders reflect on 2020, take some time (some serious time) and take to heart the sacrifice and commitment of healthcare workers and the people who support them. For example, despite the unknown, despite the risk and despite a virus, nationally, our team never missed a scheduled shift or a delivery to our customers. When you think about what they were thinking, feeling, and living both personally and professionally, it is truly remarkable. I am sure the exact same is true of your staff. They sacrificed and went above and beyond to take care of patients and their families. This brings me to the holiday that just passed. We need to thank them in as many ways possible. Cards, notes, emails, and other personal acknowledgements would be more than appropriate during normal times. But these times have been anything but normal. Get with your leadership team and think about ways you can say thank you a little differently this year. We should recognize their commitment and dedication in whatever special way we can. During this time of social distancing, a smile can prove to be the shortest distance between two people. Make your team smile behind their masks by showing how much you care and appreciate them. As we approach 2021 with optimism of a brighter day, it can make a world of difference for everyone.