IHI Framework for Improving Joy in Work

Note: French and Portuguese translations of this paper also available for download.

With increasing demands on time, resources, and energy, in addition to poorly designed systems of daily work, it’s not surprising health care professionals are experiencing burnout at increasingly higher rates, with staff turnover rates also on the rise. Yet, joy in work is more than just the absence of burnout or an issue of individual wellness; it is a system property.

Burnout leads to lower levels of staff engagement, patient experience, and productivity, and an increased risk of workplace accidents. Lower levels of staff engagement are linked with lower-quality patient care, including safety, and burnout limits providers’ empathy — a crucial component of effective and person-centered care.

So, what can health care leaders do to counteract this epidemic? IHI believes an important part of the solution is to focus on restoring joy and well-being to the health care workforce.

This white paper is intended to serve as a guide for health care organizations to engage in a participative process where leaders ask colleagues at all levels of the organization, “What matters to you?” — enabling them to better understand the barriers to joy in work, and co-create meaningful, high-leverage strategies to address these issues.

How to Cite This Paper:
Perlo J, Balik B, Swensen S, Kabcenell A, Landsman J, Feeley D. IHI Framework for Improving Joy in Work. IHI White Paper. Cambridge, MA: Institute for Healthcare Improvement; 2017. (Available at ihi.org)

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Jessica Perlo, former IHI Senior Director and co-author of the IHI White Paper, shares four steps leaders can take to help their staff find joy and meaning in their work.

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The first step to improving joy in work is for leaders to engage colleagues to identify what matters to them in their work. Jessica Perlo, IHI White Paper co-author, describes three actions to help leaders prepare for these conversations.