Team Relationships and Wellness in Radiology: An Evidence-Based Practice Implementation

Background

Creating a caring culture can positively impact patient safety and quality of care, and healthcare leaders set the standard for culture change. Compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, and burnout have been present in healthcare systems for many years and can influence performance. Interventions are implemented depending on need, context, and evidence. Most research is focused on nurses and physicians. Imaging department leaders and clinicians, who provide care across the healthcare system, also benefit from these interventions. An academic health system imaging department sought implementation of an intervention that would support a culture of caring. The process objective of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to implement a small group program for imaging department leaders to improve compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, and risk for burnout in this group. The outcome objective was to establish and sustain a culture steering committee for the entire imaging department.

Methods

A 6-month, hourly, interactive course on caring relationship concepts took place February-July 2019. Imaging leaders engaged in facilitated, intentional conversations during each class and were assigned reflection homework for peer feedback. Framework for a culture steering committee was established. A prepost project design was used to compare compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, and risk for burnout at pre, post, and 3 months postproject implementation.

Results

Compassion satisfaction remained high and compassion fatigue low at each time point. Risk for burnout showed greater than 20% improvement from baseline to post intervention and sustained improvement at 3 months postintervention. Leaders and clinicians established a culture steering committee focusing on caring relationships.

Discussion

Imaging department leaders engaged in self-care and movement toward creating a culture of caring. Engaging leaders early in the process of change influences success of an EBP implementation. The culture steering committee, focusing on caring relationships, has sustained through the years of the pandemic and continues to date.