How to communicate wellness to hospital staff

Obese doctors scarfing down chocolate-glazed donuts. Nurses chain-smoking on their lunch break. Frazzled, bloodshot interns wandering the halls of the ICU.

Do any of these images remind you of what’s going on at your hospital?

It’s hard enough to talk to patients about staying healthy, especially if your own staff is suffering. Botsford Hospital in Farmington, Mich., faced a similar quandary, but a group of hospital staffers decided to do something about it.

In 2007, the hospital’s wellness committee was formed, and it created the Botsford Health Improvement Plan (B-HIP) for employees. The 20-member wellness committee— comprising clinical and professional staffers, nurses and representatives from human resources—meets twice a month to discuss ideas to keep its physicians and other staffers healthy.

Stacy Brand, who chairs B-HIP, is the hospital’s communications projects coordinator. She’s responsible for keeping employees informed about the program.

Here’s how she spreads the word—and how you can do the same for your wellness efforts.

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