instead of talking about heroes, let’s talk about humans. to look after the humans working in health and caregiving, it starts with governments, workplaces, and health leaders shifting the dialogue from, “what’s the matter with you?” to “what matters to you?”
the
institute for healthcare improvement
has a defined approach to the crucial conversations needed for this shift. it begins with a series of questions:
• what makes for a good day for you? what makes you proud to work here? when we are at our best, what does that look like?
• what gets in the way of what matters? what are the pebbles in our shoes? what gets in the way of a good day?
• what should we tackle first?
the answers to these questions will not be the same for all care teams or in all settings. it will involve uncovering hard truths in physical and psychological safety, supporting health professionals in their best possible work, including citizens and caregivers as valued members of the care team, investing in teams and the digital infrastructure to support teamwork across the health system, all while respecting meaning, purpose, and self-determination.
we can get health care unstuck, but it will take a commitment by governments and health systems to listening to health professionals, citizens, families, and caregivers. then, it will take dedicated action from the public and the private system to change what really matters — shifting the dialogue that positions those working in health and caregiving as heroes to one that values them as humans.
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