Creating community in your department with HOSPITALstyle

Each of us in the healthcare industry has a different role in the big machine we call the world of medicine. But we all have the responsibility to fill those roles to the best of our ability. We are nurses, doctors, medical assistants, receptionists, etc. Generally though, like in high school, we tend to travel in groups/cliques. The surgeons stick with the surgeons. The emergency department never escapes it. However, long hours and challenging situations call for us to be teammates for the best interest of our patients. And in this setting, the people we work with become our mentors, our best friends, and our family.

This article is devoted to creating community within our departments and in our hospitals. I am going to include several ideas to bring fun and a sense of belonging to whichever group you are a part of.

It is important to create tradition

Just like in your own family, you have certain things you do on holidays that you would never think of changing. And they are events that everyone looks forward to.

- Create a department calendar on your MAC (iphoto) of pictures that include everyone

- Holiday parties. Need I say more.

- Slide show to sum up and to celebrate success

- Football (For example TEAM URGENT CARE vs TEAM ACUTE CARE, TEAM ATTENDINGS vs. TEAM RESIDENTS) (Have not done this but think it would be awesome!)

-Sweatshirts/Jackets. Just like any team, wearing something to represent that you are part of a group identity

-Regularly scheduled group events like bowling, skating (pic above is of me and my colleagues on resident appreciation day), rock-climbing, snowboarding, beach days, etc.

The bottom line is that when work= family=friends=fun you look forward to going. As healthcare professionals we must rely on each other for support as it is hard for the outside world to truly understand what we do.

Would love to hear your ideas/comments on ways you build community in your department.