Tampa General Hospital Partners with Krew Social to Combat Team Member Loneliness and Burnout

Addressing Loneliness and Burnout in Healthcare

Tampa General Hospital (TGH), recognized as one of the nation’s premier academic health institutions, has recently joined forces with Krew Social to combat pressing issues of loneliness and burnout impacting its team members. These challenges have significant implications for employee retention, patient safety, and the overall quality of care provided to patients.

The partnership aims to foster a more cohesive and supportive work environment by utilizing Krew Social’s innovative map-based platform. This technology allows employees to discover local gatherings or 'hangouts' with colleagues who share similar interests, promoting social interactions that can significantly reduce feelings of isolation and promote workplace well-being.

The Importance of Social Connections at Work

Loneliness is a pervasive issue affecting many workers across various industries, with healthcare professionals often feeling its effects more acutely. A revealing statistic from Cigna points out that workplace loneliness costs U.S. companies approximately $154 billion each year, largely due to absenteeism. Alarmingly, 62% of workers report experiencing feelings of loneliness. Establishing strong social connections in the workplace is essential for enhancing engagement, increasing retention rates, and improving patient care.

TGH recognizes that investing in team members' social well-being is as crucial as providing competitive benefits and remuneration. Qualenta Kivett, TGH's executive vice president and chief people and talent officer, emphasized that this collaboration with Krew Social is a pivotal measure to ensure employees feel valued, supported, and a genuine part of the hospital community.

Enhancing Employee Experience with Technology

Krew Social's platform is designed to create meaningful in-person connections through micro-events called 'hangouts', which can be organized either by department leaders or individual employees. These hangouts encourage team engagement in informal settings, making it easier for staff to mingle and share experiences. By employing a recommendation algorithm, the platform suggests hangouts tailored to users' interests and social circles, providing an effective way to meet new colleagues and foster connections.

To safeguard privacy and foster a sense of security, the platform only reveals hangout locations to approved participants, reassuring users that their interactions are safe and moderated. Looking ahead, Krew Social plans to integrate AI technology into its platform to enhance user experience further by refining its suggestion algorithm, underscoring its commitment to continuous improvement.

The Role of TGH Ventures

This initiative is part of TGH Ventures, the hospital's corporate venture capital and innovation arm, which focuses on partnering with and investing in early-stage startups. The collaboration between TGH and Krew Social enables essential enterprise features, including employee login through work credentials and customized branding for various departments.

Rachel Feinman, TGH's vice president of innovation, shared that this partnership not only addresses the current workforce challenges but also creates a blueprint for innovative solutions that could have a broader impact across the healthcare sector. The goal is to enhance team member belonging and social wellness while ensuring workplace culture remains strong and positive.

Looking Towards the Future

Krew Social's founder and CEO, Mike Chahinian, expresses enthusiasm over this collaboration, believing that the partnership can establish a new benchmark for employee well-being in healthcare settings. He notes that the platform emphasizes in-person connections beyond mere digital engagement, which can help healthcare workers feel valued and emotionally supported in their high-stakes environment.

In summary, the partnership between Tampa General Hospital and Krew Social exemplifies a proactive approach toward fostering a supportive workplace culture and prioritizing team member well-being. It sets a commendable example by investing in human resources, thereby enhancing overall employee satisfaction and, ultimately, patient care. As Tampa General continues to lead by example in the healthcare landscape, initiatives of this nature are expected to play a vital role in shaping the future of employee engagement and retention in the industry.