For this episode in our healthcare subseries, we’re revisiting our conversation with Dennis Murphy (@dennismurphy340), President and CEO of IU Health. Being smart and healthy is essential to running a successful organization.

IU Health is a healthcare mecca with 35,000 employees, 17 hospitals, and 400 locations statewide. Their culture is driven by one uniting mission: to make Indiana the healthiest state in the country.

Over the last 30 years, Dennis has amassed a wide range of leadership experience in organizations of all sizes. Along the way, he’s learned the building blocks for a healthy culture remain the same, whether you have 40 employees or 40,000.

How do you diagnose and improve your organizational health? Listen in as Dennis and Nikki break it down.

1. Feel your culture. Clarity and consistency in messaging, a clear construct for leaders of all levels to make good decisions, and storytelling. Tell stories that reinforce the culture you’re trying to build.
2. Build a healthy workplace. No matter the size of the organization, the steps are the same: Identify your goals, clearly communicate those goals, and empower and assist teams to work together to achieve them.
3. Shift your values. Move from constitutional values to values that embody who you are. Be able to share your values in 20 seconds or less (the human attention span is shorter than ever). Seek employee feedback on crafting your values. For larger organizations, consider having a sample size gives feedback versus the entire workforce. Lastly, make the change of values a movement and not a mandate.

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi  – Buy Here.

In collaboration with Wambi, the Gut + Science Podcast Healthcare Series hosted by Nikki Lewellen, Director of Partnerships at Wambi, highlights accomplished, people-first healthcare CEOs (and executives) that share their powerful mindsets, experiences and tools that have helped them succeed. The show encompasses all areas of human capital at work and the successful best practices that breed healthy, engaged organizations.

Subscribe to Gut + Science

• Stitcher
• Spotify
• Apple Podcasts
• Google Podcasts

The Gut+Science Healthcare Series, sponsored by Wambi, brings the best influencers and leaders in healthcare to share best practices, stories, and lessons to build stronger people-first healthcare institutions.

Vicki Hess is an engagement expert, author, thought-leader, and speaker, and she is passionate about inspiring healthcare leaders to take action and transform engagement.

Listen in as she and Nikki reveal the tools you need to create the environment you want to work in:

1. Employee Engagement has to be part of the organization’s strategy. It’s not a tactical thing. Stop the flavor-of-the-month surveys and choose a survey that equips you with data and insights.
   1. [00:04:53] Vicki: What I see that doesn’t work is when the survey becomes a big push, it becomes like the flavor of the month. And all of the sudden now we’re focusing on the survey and we want everyone to do the survey. And if you turn in your ticket, you’re gonna get a prize. And the managers like, please, please, please take this survey. And Edwards like, oh, whatever, you know, and they take this survey. And the reason they say, oh, whatever is because last year when this happened, the survey results came back. They had the requisite action planning meeting. They all got in a room. They looked at the results. They said what they wanted to have to get better. And then they never heard anything again. [00:05:26]
2. Take Action. Weave engagement into every single thing you do as an organization. 
   1. [00:06:08] Vicki: When somebody says to me, we have a people pillar and it’s an agenda item on every single meeting we have and all of our performance reviews are related to that and et cetera. Then I’m like, they’ve got a strategic connection. So the organizations that do well with sustaining engagement over time, they go from what I call engagement dread where the managers like, oh, I got to talk about the survey and, you know, do an action plan to the engagement thread where you weave engagement into everything that you’re doing. [00:06:40]
3. Manager engagement skills are huge. Communication and employee-engagement training is a must for managers of all levels.
   1. [00:19:59] Vicki: if it’s truly important, it’s got to be part of the strategy. It doesn’t have to be compensation related for leaders, but it definitely has to be some measure of their success has to be related to the engagement levels of their team. The other thing is there’s got to be the tools for training and teaching managers how to be effective, engaging leaders. And it can’t be a flavor of the month.  [00:20:22]
4. You must have the right mindset and belief for the strategy to work. Be intentional with how you equip your leaders to understand the engagement initiatives.
   1. [00:19:10] Vicki: These unproductive beliefs and mindsets that organizations let thrive, that they let go on are often the cause of disengagement. At an organizational level, then leaders feel helpless. Their mindset might be, but what can I do about this? And then individuals there, their negative mindset as well. It’s somebody else’s job to make me happy at work. And so unless those things are addressed and talked about. Now, the cool thing is we know what the unproductive beliefs are. We just have to be willing to talk about this elephant in the room or the sacred cow. [00:19:41]

In collaboration with Wambi, the Gut + Science Podcast Healthcare Series hosted by Nikki Lewellen, Director of Partnerships at Wambi, highlights accomplished, people-first healthcare CEOs (and executives) that share their powerful mindsets, experiences and tools that have helped them succeed. The show encompasses all areas of human capital at work and the successful best practices that breed healthy, engaged organizations.

Subscribe to Gut + Science

• Stitcher
• Spotify
• Apple Podcasts
• Google Podcasts

The 2020 gifts for healthcare workers list is sure to spread cheer to your favorite healthcare worker, far and near.

Christmas is fast approaching! If the frenzy and chaos of 2020 has knocked you off your feet, these last-minute gifts for healthcare workers are here to save the day! Desperate shoppers, rejoice! Each one of these gifts has been carefully hand-selected, featuring recommendations and suggestions from the Wambi flock and our friends in healthcare.

Bala Shoes, $130 

A shoe made for nurses, by nurses. On the top of our gifts for healthcare workers list are these orthopedic shoes that don’t compromise aesthetics for comfort. Thanks to the shoes’ popularity, the sneakers are backordered until January, giving last-minute shoppers a valid reason for the tardiness. 

Buy Here

Motivational Water Bottle, $17.99 

Make hydration joyful. This 1-gallon water bottle measures hydration progress across the typical 12-hour shift for healthcare workers on graveyard shifts. And words of affirmation cheer you on at every milestone! 

Buy Here

Holiday Cheer Coffee Bundle, $26.99 

Every cup helps a pup. For the animal-loving healthcare workers in your life, this limited-edition coffee bundle featuring two of the brand’s most popular blends supports animal rescue missions across the USA. 

Buy Here

Silk Mask with Filter Pocket, $22 

One of our nursing friends shared that wearing PPE masks over 12 hours a day has done serious damage to her skin. She raved about these silk masks, which are much gentler on her tired skin and help her feel pampered during her off-hours. Available in 7 colors.

Buy Here

Face Mask Refreshing Spray, $12.99   

Revitalize a worn-out mask with this refreshing spray packed with lavender and tea tree oil. This BIPOC-owned small business was inspired by the founder’s dad, Will, who was very ill. During his hospitalization, his son came up with solution to stimulate his memory through the power of scent and thus, the Way of Will was born. 

Buy Here

40-Count Tea Gift Set, $30.90 

Teas for every mood. This gift suggestion was inspired by our resident RN at Wambi, Dr. Bonnie Clipper, who sips a cup of Moroccan Mint Tea every afternoon. For nurses with jam-packed days, simplicity is essential to fast decision-making.

Buy Here

If you like Dr. Bonnie Clipper’s suggestions, watch some of her Wambi Chats with nursing leaders here.

Compression Calf-Sock 3-Pack, $54 

Banish the first signs of varicose veins with these fashionable compression socks. Not only do they work their magic on tired calves, but for every pair purchased, a pair is donated to a homeless shelter. Did you know that socks are the most requested item at homeless shelters? 3 pairs = 3 donations. 

Buy Here

O’Keefe’s Hand Cream Value Set, $27.39 

With the aggressive amounts of hand sanitizer being used at hospitals these days, the cracked hands of hardworking healthcare workers will thank you with this nourishing, heavy-duty salve that instantly moisturizes. 

Buy Here

Neck Lanyard, $11 

An ultrasound technician from Kaiser Permanente shared with us that lanyards are the only way she gets to personalize her outfit. With over 30 patterns and prints to choose from, make these lanyards the stylish and low-lift accessory for any healthcare worker. 

Buy Here

Metal Lunch Pot, $17.99 

This metal lunch pot is perfect for soup season. Healthcare workers can easily store their meals in this split-compartment container, keeping snacks in the clear leak-proof lid and hot foods in the BPA-free canister.  

Buy Here

Open Table Gift Card, Any Amount 

Gift that special healthcare worker in your life a gift card to their favorite restaurant as a way to take care of them. Tibi Samuel, our Associate Business Analyst, shared: “I know after 12-hour shifts, all my nurse friends want to do is just go out to eat!”  

Buy Here

Figs Scrubs, Starting at $38 for Tops and $46 for Bottoms 

Modern, form-flattering scrubs with utility features like multiple functional zippered pockets, adjustable drawstrings, and interior security pockets. Did we mention they also sell underscrubs and lab coats?

Buy Here

Sunrise Alarm Clock, $45.99 

“This is a gift for my mom who is a respiratory therapist,” writes Millette Stambaugh, the Digital Marketing Coordinator at Wambi. “My mom works the graveyard shift and her body clock is totally off most of the time. This year, I want to give her this soothing light alarm clock that will wake her body up naturally by mimicking the sun’s glow. Light therapy for the win!” 

Buy Here

Ultralight Tote Pack, $89 

Out of all the bag options on the market, this ultralight tote bag made our gifts for healthcare workers list because of its efficiency. Not only does it have large enough side pockets for any miscellaneous objects, but it’s easy to wash, making sanitation less of a chore. Comes in three colors. 

Buy Here

Set of 6 Pens, $9 

These no-fuss modern pens get straight to the point. Our Marketing Associate, Chris Gregorio, emphasized that healthcare workers always need pens while making their rounds. This colorful assortment will make sure none of your pens go rogue! 

Buy Here

If your budget cannot accommodate any indulgent spending this year, give the gift of kindness using our Carepostcard platform. Send words of appreciation to that special healthcare worker in your life using Wambi’s virtual postcard platform. These messages of gratitude will be shared not only with the world, but with the people who matter the most – our frontline healthcare workers. Happy holidays!