Sanford Health, a 46-hospital system based in Sioux Falls, S.D., said it saves $27 million annually through physician retention efforts, according to an Oct. 21 post from the American Medical Association.
The system runs multiple initiatives aimed at improving well-being, including a clinician well-being council and a leadership development program.
In terms of concrete results, between 2022 and 2024, the rural health system saw an 8% increase in physicians’ job satisfaction and a 13.8% drop in burnout. In a prior conversation with Becker’s, Heather Spies, MD, Sanford’s physician director of clinician experience and well-being, had credited ambient listening technology and the system’s culture of constant feedback and action as drivers of these results.
With increases in physician engagement and job satisfaction, the physician turnover rate declined. The improvements have resulted in 34 fewer physicians leaving the organization, annually saving the system approximately $27 million, Dr. Spies told AMA.
Sanford also orchestrates annual check-ins, between 30 and 60 minutes, with employees.
“Some wondered at first if this was going to be just one more thing on their plate,” Dr. Spies said. “But leaders kept showing up, listening and responding. Just sitting down, asking thoughtful questions and really listening made people feel seen and heard.”
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