The Win-Win Situation: Strengthening Clinician Partnerships Amid Burnout
Clinicians aren’t just healers; they are also experts in patient care. Involving them in philanthropic decision-making allows health care organizations to leverage their firsthand experience and knowledge, ensuring funds are directed to areas with the greatest potential to improve health outcomes.
When clinicians actively participate in philanthropy, their personal touch helps organizations build deeper, more meaningful relationships, fostering greater donor loyalty and more generous contributions. Their involvement adds a genuine sense of trust and authenticity to the foundation’s mission, enhancing its credibility and appeal. However, clinician involvement is not always easy. Even in the best of times, the overarching overlay of burnout makes engagement difficult.
When clinicians actively participate in philanthropy, their personal touch helps organizations build deeper, more meaningful relationships, fostering greater donor loyalty and more generous contributions.
Clinicians today face unprecedented demands, managing heavy workloads and navigating complex health care landscapes fraught with unexpected challenges. They shoulder the dual responsibilities of diagnosing and treating patients, staying abreast of advancing medical practices and managing administrative duties—all under tight time constraints. This relentless workload can lead to elevated stress levels and burnout.
Unaddressed clinician burnout profoundly impacts numerous aspects of the health care environment. Clinician burnout can erode empathy and communication skills, directly affecting patient satisfaction. It also extends into personal lives, disrupting relationships, work-life balance and overall well-being. Additionally, it can strain relationships with colleagues, leading to interpersonal conflicts that further diminish job satisfaction.
Fortunately, there are effective strategies to mitigate clinician burnout and strengthen clinician-philanthropy partnerships at the same time. By promoting gratitude and fostering a sense of belonging and connectedness among health care professionals, health care systems become more resilient and sustainable, positively impacting everyone involved.
Gratitude
Gratitude is like a superpower that can boost our sense of purpose and bring more joy into our lives. It reminds us of the positive impact we make on others. Gratitude uplifts spirits, creating a positive atmosphere that benefits both patients and health care providers. Gratitude also plays a crucial role in managing stress and restoring well-being. It’s a simple yet powerful tool for finding balance in our busy health care world.
In order to bring more gratitude into the clinician-philanthropy partnership, we must transcend traditional roles. It’s about forging relationships that benefit both sides—where philanthropy is a catalyst for positivity rather than an additional burden. To chart this new course, we must first acknowledge existing challenges, identify clinicians’ unique needs and create an environment where collaboration can truly thrive.
It’s about forging relationships that benefit both sides—where philanthropy is a catalyst for positivity rather than an additional burden.
Belonging and Connectedness
Creating a sense of belonging and connectedness among clinicians is crucial for nurturing successful clinician-philanthropy partnerships. This involves philanthropy officers engaging with clinicians not merely as transactional counterparts, but by providing genuine support, resources and meaningful engagement. This approach marks a shift from focusing on “what we can get” to “what we can give.”
Additionally, Workhuman’s research with Gallup reveals that receiving recognition at work can enhance a sense of belonging and strengthen connectedness. For instance, receiving the right recognition increases thriving by up to 84% and reduces stress by 40%, while giving recognition boosts overall thriving by up to 105%.1
To truly foster a sense of belonging and connectedness among clinicians, organizations should encourage their philanthropy officers to move beyond mere emails and meetings. By doing their due diligence, philanthropy officers can identify and engage in thoughtful acts of kindness that resonate with each clinician. These gestures may include handwritten notes, sharing a meaningful book or playlist or even surprising them with their favorite coffee drink. These gestures establish a foundation of belonging, connectedness and trust, which are essential for building strong and enduring partnerships.
Here are further steps to cultivate mutually fulfilling clinician-philanthropy partnerships and effectively address clinician burnout within your organization:
Be honest about goals and timelines; clinicians appreciate knowing what to expect.
Create a culture of feedback where clinicians are encouraged to share their thoughts and expectations.
Tailor communication to each clinician’s preferences.
Provide information about resources, support and benefits; transparency strengthens partnerships.
Ensure that goals are realistic and achievable; show appreciation for clinicians’ commitment to these goals.
During regular meetings, express gratitude for clinicians’ time, insights and dedication.
Mitigating clinician burnout and strengthening the clinician-philanthropy bond are vital to the success of your health care organization. By embracing these steps and fostering a culture of gratitude, belonging and connectedness, your organization can significantly enhance clinician well-being, build stronger relationships and advance your philanthropic mission.
¹ Gallup. Workplace Recognition Research. (2024). https://www.gallup.com/analytics/472658/workplace-recognition-research.aspx
About the Author: Susan Attwell, CFRE, is a Principal Consultant with Accordant. She specializes in creating and implementing strategic plans for front line fund development initiatives, donor cultivation, board relations and clinician engagement in philanthropy. You can reach her by email at Susan@AccordantHealth.com or by connecting through LinkedIn.
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