Do’s and do nots of clinician engagement

Engaging clinicians in organizational initiatives can be challenging. They are already balancing a plethora of priorities pulling them in different directions—and many are also struggling with symptoms of burnout. So, how do you motivate clinicians to buy into important goals and objectives without adding more to their plate than is reasonable or sustainable? In this blog, let’s discuss how to get clinicians on board without making them want to jump ship. You’ve got this!

Do

1. Promote clear communication and transparency: Transparently communicate the rationale, goals and benefits of the initiatives to clinicians. Explain how these initiatives align with their professional values and the overall improvement of patient care. By understanding the purpose and potential impact, clinicians are more likely to buy into the initiatives willingly.
2. Engage clinicians in decision-making: Seek clinicians’ input and feedback, allowing them to shape the initiatives to be more feasible and relevant to their daily practice. When clinicians have a sense of ownership and influence over the initiatives, they are more likely to invest their time and effort willingly.
3. Align with existing priorities and goals: Recognize that clinicians already have numerous responsibilities and priorities. To avoid overwhelming them, prioritize initiatives that align with their current goals and obligations. Identify initiatives that address their pain points or improve efficiency in their workflows. By integrating new initiatives with existing priorities, clinicians are more likely to view them as valuable rather than burdensome additions.
4. Provide adequate support: Ensure that clinicians have the necessary resources and tools to implement the initiatives effectively. This may include providing training, educational materials, technology support and dedicated staff or resources to assist with the workload associated with the initiatives. By alleviating practical challenges, clinicians can focus on delivering high-quality care without feeling overwhelmed.
5. Emphasize collaboration and teamwork: Encourage teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration when implementing initiatives. Foster a culture of shared responsibility, where clinicians can rely on their colleagues for support and assistance. By distributing the workload and promoting teamwork, clinicians can feel less burdened and experience benefits from the collective efforts of the team.
6. Proactively address burnout and well-being: Implement strategies to promote work-life balance, provide emotional support, and create a positive work environment. When leaders demonstrate a genuine concern for well-being, clinicians are more likely to feel valued and motivated to engage in initiatives without compromising their mental and physical health.

Do NOT

Leaders can stumble in engaging and empowering clinicians when they:

• Undervalue clinician input
• Communicate infrequently or ineffectively
• Ignore workflow and practical needs
• Fail to allocate sufficient resources
• Deemphasize or do not recognize achievements
• Push back against change and innovation
• Deprioritize clinician well-being

By avoiding these missteps, leaders can create an environment that fosters clinician engagement and empowerment—and ultimately leads to improved patient care outcomes.

Looking for more customized support for engaging your clinicians in quality improvement initiatives? We’re the team for the job! Book a complimentary consultation with our analytics experts to get started.