The Role of Internal Comms in Addressing the Healthcare Disengagement Crisis

We asked 1,000 healthcare professionals across the globe about their employee experience, the challenges they face, and what keeps them motivated in 2024 (hint: it’s not money).

If you work in the healthcare industry, you know that things can get chaotic. With so many different departments, shift patterns, buildings, and priorities – not to mention the fact that lives are literally on the line every single day – it's natural that internal communication can fall by the wayside. 

And if you're an internal communicator, you're likely feeling the pressure to make the case for internal comms being a non-negotiable – rather than a luxury – in a healthcare setting.

That only becomes more evident in the results of our survey, which revealed that there's a crisis of disengagement sweeping our healthcare system.

But here's the good news: a connected healthcare workforce isn't out of reach, and having the right insights, data, and tools to hand is going to help you make it a reality. 

Here’s what we discovered: 

• Disengagement has a ripple effect. The survey reveals that 57% of frontline healthcare employees feel disengaged, with disengaged individuals four times more likely to consider leaving their job. In fact, 85% of unengaged employees said they were searching for a new job, compared to just 21% of those who feel engaged in their roles.
• Recognition is vital. Lack of recognition and appreciation was cited as the number-one reason for feeling disengaged by 72% of participants.
• Empathetic leadership is key. The role of healthcare administrators is pivotal in shaping the frontline worker experience. A significant portion of administrators (84%) claim the existence of recognition programs, yet a majority of frontline staff (64%) feel under-appreciated and undervalued. With this kind of gap, it’s clear that many recognition programs are falling short of their purpose. 

Our report represents a clear need for change. With the right tools and strategies, healthcare administrators and leaders can ensure their teams feel connected, recognized, and supported 24/7, whether they’re in the office, on the ward, on call, or on the road. Download the eBook today.