Editor’s note: This blog post is part of a series on sound health. Read part one here.
Doctors and nurses dedicate their lives to caring for others, but who is caring for them? Recent research makes it clear: healthy, happy caregivers provide better patient care. Yet caregivers’ realities are seldom a symbol of health: long hours, rotating shifts, and physically demanding tasks, set against the background of the sound of someone in pain, the most stressful noise in a hospital setting. It’s no wonder that healthcare workers are at high risk for physical and mental health problems, including musculoskeletal injuries and depression. Long overlooked, the impacts of diminished caregiver health are now coming to the surface.
Leading companies across industries are investing in wellbeing programs—like Gensler’s WorkWell℠ model—as a business strategy aimed at increasing employee productivity, enhancing engagement, and improving overall health and happiness in the workplace. Companies with healthy and happy employees are twice as innovative, and every dollar invested in workplace mental health initiatives results in a $2.30 return. With this in mind, hospitals are exploring cost-effective solutions to help caregivers manage stress in the 24/7 hospital environment.