On paper, healthcare workforces look stable. An average of 83% of employees report feeling engaged or highly engaged. Yet more than one-third plan to leave within 12 months — nearly double the industry’s projected 18.5% turnover rate.
A survey of 718 healthcare and pharmaceutical employees traces the disconnect to a single source: communication that reaches people constantly but reliably lands far less often. Despite frequent messaging, 90% of nurses report learning about a workplace policy only after it took effect, and more than 80% have seen organizational miscommunication affect patient care.
But some systems are closing the gap by making their communication more targeted and reliable. Wellstar Health System raised flu compliance from 54% to 99%, Cooper University Health Care saw a 57% increase in near-miss reporting participation, and Nebraska Medicine reached roughly 90% of its 10,000-person workforce while reducing reliance on manual communication chains.
Inside this report, you’ll learn:
- How miscommunication surfaces as compliance and safety exposure
- Why high engagement scores can hide serious retention risk
- Why managers are the most trusted messengers — and the most overburdened
- Four traits of communication systems that turn information into action