A Little Communication Goes a Long Way

A simple conversation can often fix anything—folks just want to be heard. In the pediatric department at San Jose Medical Center, morale is soaring but it wasn’t always that way. A few years back, morale sagged as people did their own thing. The team asked around and communication was the key. They opted for short, informal meetings. And anyone could call a huddle at any time. Member Patient Satisfaction scores jumped 10 percent and sick time dropped to 6.9 days per FTE in two years.

Here's What Worked

• Communicating with the team
• Asking how the team prefers to communicate or meet
• Allowing team members to earn rewards for attendance

What can your team do to improve communication among its members?