Title : “For the Culture” - A Wellstar Health System Workforce Engineering Well-Being Initiative
Abstract:
The “For the Culture” initiative, led by the Wellstar Health System’s Workforce Engineering (WFE) Department, is a strategic effort to enhance team member well-being through education, resources, and leadership engagement. This initiative supports a workplace culture grounded in resilience, support, and holistic wellness—one that strengthens job satisfaction, improves team dynamics, and contributes to organizational excellence. The WFE department includes over 900 clinicians in roles such as Telesitters, Registered Nurses (RNs), Care Partners, and Imaging Technologists. This diversity necessitates adaptable and inclusive wellness strategies to meet the unique needs of this clinical population. At the heart of the initiative is the Well-Being Index (WBI), a validated self-assessment tool developed by the Mayo Clinic. The WBI evaluates six critical dimensions of healthcare professional well-being: Meaning in Work, Likelihood of Burnout, Severe Fatigue, Work-Life Integration, Quality of Life, and Suicidal Ideation. It offers personalized insights to employees and provides leadership with actionable data to guide system-wide wellness interventions. Wellstar complements the WBI with a robust set of wellness resources. For mental health support, tools such as Spring Health and Headspace are offered. For life and family support, services like Wellstar Concierge, ShineWell, Bright Horizons, and Adoption Assistance are available. Financial wellness is addressed through programs such as Better Money Habits, Student Loan U, and Tuition Reimbursement. Physical and emotional wellness resources include Sharecare, Wellness Rooms, and access to Wellstar Fitness and Health Place. The urgency of this initiative is underscored by troubling national data. Only 30% of U.S. employees are engaged at work, and 61% report experiencing burnout. In healthcare, approximately 62% of nurses report burnout, rising to 69% among those under 25. Replacing one RN costs between $37,700 and $58,400, and burnout-related turnover contributes significantly to operational strain. These figures illustrate the need for targeted and sustainable well-being strategies. Unlike programs that narrowly focus on physical health, “For the Culture” adopts a holistic approach—addressing mental, emotional, physical, social, and financial dimensions. This comprehensive strategy helps reduce burnout, boost engagement, and improve both caregiver and patient experiences. Leadership plays a crucial role in driving cultural change. Leaders are expected to attend monthly initiative meetings, distribute the Leader Toolkit, and actively promote the use of wellness resources. Their support ensures the success of the program and sustains a culture of compassion and connection. In conclusion, “For the Culture” is a proactive and evidence-based approach to workforce well-being. Research supports the use of tools like the Well-Being Index to identify distress and stratify wellness among healthcare professionals (Dyrbye et al., 2019). This initiative aligns with Wellstar’s mission to enhance the health and well-being of every person they serve. By prioritizing the needs of caregivers, Wellstar builds a culture where healthcare professionals thrive—and so do their patients.
