Using Fun and Consistent Recognition to Establish a Positive Health-Care Workforce Culture in Pandemic Times and Beyond

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic caused stress and challenges for every aspect of health-care services around the globe. Health-care workers especially faced severe burnout and psychological fatigue under immense pressure, long hours and high patient acuity and mortality. To provide recognition to health-care heroes who worked through these challenges, Tampa General Hospital's (TGH) Patient and Family Engagement Department initiated the Gumby Award, a monthly honor awarded to a health-care team at TGH that has demonstrated resilience, flexibility and world-class care. Three years later, Gumby has become a guiding principle at TGH, exemplifying the importance of creating and supporting positive, culture and recognition among health-care teams.