Group Implements Culture Change Through Positivity and Engagement
Strategies that address workforce recruitment and retention are essential to providing optimal health in Kansas. The Workforce Strategies Award recognizes a team of employees, providers or volunteers who have significantly contributed to the well-being, retention or recruitment of health care workers at their facility.
The Patterson Health Center Lemonheads is a group of dedicated health care workers whose mission is to promote well-being and appreciation for the everyday accomplishments of their fellow workers, celebrate wins (big and small), and find silver linings among the most challenging days. Born during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lemonheads built their mission and vision on the book, Pickle Pledge; Creating a More Positive Healthcare Culture-One attitude at a time and Florence Nightingale's Prescription: From Accountability to Ownership, a strategic guide that helped create an organizational culture that is more emotionally positive, empowered and engaged. This inspiration came after going to a Seminar on building culture and ownership in Healthcare by Joe Tye. His enthusiasm was contagious! Instead of using his pickle pledge idea, our group decided we could do great things with lemons, thus ‘Lemonheads.’ Some days are sour and some are sweet depending on what you add to it!
The PHC Lemonheads challenge every employee to commit to turning complaints into constructive contributions. The Lemonheads have become significant and impactful leaders at PHC by planning group events, recognizing contributions and promoting positive morale.
“The Lemonheads consistently demonstrate compassion, empathy, and respect, profoundly impacting our patients, visitors, and staff. For instance, the Lemonheads developed a program called "Lemonade Maker" which is an initiative that allows employees to recognize the everyday contributions of co-workers when they go above and beyond. People want to do good, this just recognizes them and hopefully rubs off on someone else to do something nice” said Sarah Teaff, CEO of Patterson Health Center.
The PHC Lemonheads work hard at promoting an environment of cooperation and collaboration. Under the leadership of Heather Reames, DON, the Lemonheads initiated monthly games, prizes, recognition, and a quarterly barbecue that allowed staff to come together, eat and share as well as the annual Christmas party. This has improved team dynamics and offered PHC an opportunity to consistently show appreciation for the entire staff.
“Since the inception of the Lemonheads program, employee engagement survey scores have improved, and staff feel their contribution is recognized and that their ideas matter. As a result of these positive changes, turnover has steadily declined. The program is a testament to the improvement in morale and well-being of our staff,” said Teaff.
The Lemonheads consist of employees who are nursing staff, business office staff, administrators, dietary staff, RT, PTA, and x-ray staff. “It was important to find people throughout the facility that are well liked, and others will listen too. It might not be the most positive person, but people listen, so if we could shift that one leader to buy into the group, we had the listeners.” Reames said.
After a long, complicated merger of two hospitals, a pandemic and CEO turnover, the Lemonheads were tasked with shifting the culture from one that focused on defeat to one that focused on the everyday miracles and acts of kindness.
“Any culture change is a marathon, not a sprint. The Lemonhead consistently shows up for staff, planning events, promoting PHC values, and making sure we are turning lemons into lemonade every day,” said Teaff.