Paging Dr. Joy: How a CEO prescribed smiles to hospital staff

I was walking along the Outpatient Building towards the Main Building of our hospital and noticed something different – the staff are visibly happier. 

Upon noticing this, I imagined I was in the happiest place on earth – Disneyland. I saw the healthcare workers as Disney prince and princesses.  With the scorching heat of the sun in UAE, I imagined Olaf.  I thought I was in the Frozen movie with a lot of snow.  “Poof!”  I was not, still here in the hospital with just a more cheerful staff. 

Thanks to the recent initiative of our CEO.  The hospital administration decided that instead of the usual formal email, they would focus on boosting the morale of the staff.  The CEO’s approach that is more personal has led to a happier staff, less stressful operations, and a lot fewer complaints about the vending machine.   

It is not an overnight transformation though; or some do, like the vending machine –  this is my favorite because for long years of working in the hospital, finally there is a free coffee vending machine for staff – in the basement. 

Yes, working in the basement could lead to feeling of invisibility.  It is isolated from where the action is but work done here is crucial to the hospital’s daily operation.  For one, there is no window in the basement, and no vending machine – at least before the CEOs move to put a vending machine in the basement.  That is why a simple vending machine in the basement brought not only smiles to the hospital staff but also a less stressful work, which gave smiles and led to a more efficient healthcare.

It all started with a call to join the monthly round table meeting with the CEO.   Sharing of ideas was limited to 8 to 10 staff only.  But boy, there were a lot of thoughtful ideas and concerns raised.  For example, the lack of recognition and appreciation, the scheduling, wellness, work culture and sustainability.  These are just few that were being reviewed and acted on.

Then, there was the “CEO portal”, which became the “venting hub” of the staff all over the hospital.  Some were anonymous and some were brave enough to mention their names.  Nevertheless, the portal became the “action center” of the hospital staff.  The CEO personally reads each and every submission – that’s a lot of reading – but he is really serious on doing it.  The concerns reported here pushed changes, increased the dignity of staff and felt the support of the administration. 

The transformation might take a long time but rest assured it is being acted on.  Somehow, superman came and lifted up the kryptonite that has been wearing down the hospital staff. 

In UAE, there is the tree of Ghaff and in our hospital, there is indeed a happy staff.  Do the words sound-alike?  Well, here in the hospital, happiness rhymes with healthcare efficiency because staff wellness is not anymore secondary to patient care, just page “Dr. Joy” and get a prescription of smiles.