Smart health employees have realized that now is the time to seize the opportunities to develop strategic employee health care and wellness plans for 2021 because Covid-19 has not only exposed the strengths and weaknesses of many health care institutions but has also opened new avenues for prioritizing employee health.
Undoubtedly, Covid 19 pandemic has brought extraordinary challenges to the health and well-being of hospital employees. Health care institutions are greatly relying on positive approaches towards employee well-being, both in and out of work. For companies that stress proper health practices, the employees are greatly benefitted.
The key Factors for prioritizing employee health and wellness
Covid-19 is partially blamed as it is not the only thing threatening the health of the workers. Lack of self-care over numerous weeks can lead to a significant drop in wellness.
Let us discuss the various facets that companies should be deploying in their health care strategies.
#1. Invest in employee health & wellness committee
Employees of every sector acknowledge when a company goes the extra mile to ensure they are healthy both physically and mentally. This entire pandemic has stressed the need for people to educate themselves. Especially the employees working in hospitals need to purge themselves of any unhealthy habits. Health care employers need to provide all the resources and information that they can for the following purposes.
- Inform hospital employees of how to live a healthier life
- Emphasize why they need to do so
One of the smart ways to do so is by having a well-organized body to take care of the health facts on a day to day basis. Focusing to start a health and wellness committee for employees can be extremely beneficial to regulate health standards in an improved manner. Tasks such as diet facts, good practices for physical and mental health, exercises can be included. Not only the employees will appreciate the efforts but they will be more productive by being active and agile at the workplace.
#2. Free telehealth services for the health care workers
Many employers are advancing towards proving more knowledge for their employees. In order to achieve that, they can start investing in telehealth services for their staff. The telehealth services can benefit the hospital employees of all levels by offering a responsive health line to their workers.
In case any employee finds any symptom of health issues, they can approach the designated telehealth service and have an answer in moments. Once the pandemic situation is normalized, the telehealth services will prove to be a valuable asset for the company. With the growing need for things like virtual doctors and mental health hotlines, a telehealth program will be a lifetime investment for the future.
#3. Encourage self-care to boost employee health & wellness
No matter how much the hospitals ensure the safety and well-being of their employees, the crux is that nobody can force them to act upon other than the employees themselves. Hence, it is vital to push the need for self-care to the employees to improve their overall health. Every day needs to be treated as an opportunity to check in on staff and prioritize healthy work practices.
Here are some key ideas for employers to ensure a healthy self-care practice for the staff.
- Prioritizing the balance of work and life by helping by setting guidelines – how many hours they are allowing workers to collect each week and the hours they are expected to be present for.
- Promote physical health by taking steps towards cutting out unhealthy habits, then the workers will follow suit.
- Reinforcements for mental health by reminding them that they are not alone and always have someone to reach out to if they need help.
#4. Develop strong personal communication
Health care employees need strong personal communication and employers need to take care of this. More importantly, they need to know that management is thinking about them and concerned for them. It might be time-consuming but doing so from time to time will develop good relationships among the employees.
When employees see the concern and personal attention, it makes them feel valued. And as an employer, you should make the best of every opportunity to make your employees valuable.
#5. Consistent communication about the need for taking breaks
For every employee working continuously can be frustrating and unproductive. Considering the fact, hospital authorities should take the initiative to encourage employees to take consistent breaks and walk away from their desks.
Taking short breaks can help health care employees to focus more and drive to do the job right. It’s also just as important to encourage employees to take time off if need be. In order to ensure the well-being of their mental health, employers need to make it known that days off are acceptable in order to maintain a healthy balance.
Some hospitals can boost employee morale by sending custom care packages to each employee’s house. It shows that their employer admires their staff and is wanting to protect them from this pandemic as much as possible.
#6. Strategize an effective self-care plan
It is highly imperative for employers to set guidelines of a self-care plan for their entire hospital employees. It will help them to realize the importance of prioritizing their health and control the things that are in their hand.
The hospital management authority can assist with payroll, outsourcing recruiting to reduce the work burden. It serves as the budget-friendly solution to human resources as hospitals need it on a higher side.
Wrap Up
After the pandemic dust is settled down, hospitals that are prioritizing their employee health will be in great benefit. Hence, healthcare providing institutions, hospitals, and clinics need to make sure that their staff should be healthy enough to support them for the long term. Having sound employee health will lead them to greater success.
About Net Health
Net Health is reuniting caregivers with their calling through cloud-based software for specialty medical providers across the continuum of care. Net Health interoperable EHRs deliver end-to-end solutions that ensure compliance, improve outcomes, empower providers and inspire care. The company serves over 14,000 facilities, including 98 percent of the largest hospital chains, two-thirds of skilled nursing facilities and many leading hospice organizations and private practices. Net Health is a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, Level Equity and Silversmith Capital Partners.
