Saving Money and Lives: Why Healthcare Needs Civility Training

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The REAL Healthcare Reform

Everyone involved in healthcare delivery must ask, 'Is my workplace doing enough to prevent disruptive behaviors that undermine safety?'

Durham, North Carolina (PRWEB) June 14, 2012

Civility training is no joking matter. The Joint Commission recently declared that “behaviors that undermine a culture of safety” constitute a Sentinel Event and now requires all accredited organizations to put education, accountability and zero-tolerance policies in place as deterrents.

“Everyone involved in healthcare delivery, from the board of directors to the unit secretary, and everyone in between must ask themselves, ‘Is my workplace doing enough to prevent disruptive behaviors that undermine safety?’” Says Linda Leekley, BS, RN. “If the answer is ‘no,’ then it’s time to take action now!”

Linda recently co-authored a new book and Civility Training Program with fellow nurse, Stacey Turnure, RN called, “The REAL Healthcare Reform.” This book and training program provide the step-by-step action plan that all accredited healthcare organizations need to meet the Joint Commission’s Leadership Standard and resolve the toxic atmosphere that undermines the culture of safety in healthcare.

Civility training does more than just meet the Joint Commission’s requirements. Civility training in the healthcare workplace also:

1. Reduces costly medical errors. Incivility ruins communication among the healthcare team, and poor communication is a direct threat to patient safety. Civility training will decrease dangerous and potentially deadly medical errors by improving teamwork and communication.

2. Increases employee retention. A staggering number of healthcare employees report having quit a job because of incivility. Civility training can improve employee retention at every level, saving organizations precious time and money involved in hiring and training new employees.

3. Cuts down on “call-outs” and absenteeism. Working in a culture of incivility leads to more absenteeism. As many as 47% of healthcare employees report spending less time at work because of incivility. Civility training creates an atmosphere that energizes and inspires those who are in it. Employees who are energized and inspired will look forward to coming to work, thus reducing the rate of absenteeism.

4. Eliminates conflict and drama. Incivility leads to conflict and conflict = DRAMA! Healthcare professionals who embrace civility are less likely to burn out, bully or “eat their young.” This means less conflict and drama in the workplace!

5. Improves client satisfaction and enhances the organizations reputation. Disgruntled, dissatisfied and disengaged employees don’t provide quality care to the clients they serve. This leads to a decrease in client satisfaction. Clients who are dissatisfied with the care they receive share their negative experience with others in the community. When healthcare organizations make embracing civility a priority, they enjoy improved client satisfaction and an enhanced reputation with the public.

“Healthcare organizations have very few options when it comes to implementing a full scale civility training program,” says Stacey Turnure, RN. “They can develop a program themselves, which is costly and time consuming, or they can call in expensive and impersonal “consultants” or “trainers.” Unfortunately, most of these private contractors do not specialize in the unique needs of the healthcare environment.”

With In the Know’s civility training program, the hard (and expensive) part is DONE! The Instructor’s Guide walks the facilitator seamlessly through content delivery. The material is appropriate for a wide variety of professionals coming from a range of different backgrounds, disciplines and settings. And, the content is targeted directly to individuals who work in healthcare environments.

Organizations who wish to learn more can call Maria Easton at (877) 809-5515 to discuss bulk discounts on the book and special rates on the Instructor’s Manual.

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