Community Creates Quality Care

I can't prove what I am about to propose, but I firmly believe a strong culture and community creates belonging, and that community drives how we treat each other--and ultimately, our patients. The broader community is created through the way the organization and management treats employees, and great organizations take care of the employees, who take care of each other, and then take care of the patients.

In some environments, creating a positive culture for caring can be more difficult. As organizations become larger, both the number of employees and geographical distance can impact our capability to feel connected and like we belong. As an example, suppose you are at a party with 10 people (yourself included). If we asked everyone to form 5 paired groups, how many possible pairs would there be? 945. This means there are 945 unique pairs, relationships, and possibilities. Increase this number to several dozen, hundreds, or thousands and it is very easy to understand how quickly the possibilities start adding up.

It's also easy to understand how one might feel isolated and no longer unique. And in larger institutions, it is easy to feel anonymous. And this can reduce our sense of belonging. I am thrust into new environments weekly, and as the new residents, interns, and medical students come to the operating rooms for the first time, it is my chance to get to know them.

Do I have to? Is it my responsibility to introduce myself and ask them who they are and what their role is? Not really. But it certainly makes them feel more at ease and more comfortable. It creates an instant emotional connection that someone does care. I care. I care because it is a caring and learning environment. The shiny, cold steel trays, undecorated walls, and the lights looming overhead in the OR are very intimidating and uninviting.

It is our responsibility to be good stewards in helping to create a positive community. It creates connection, and connection fosters communication, and communication and connection is caring. And building a micro community everyday makes life a lot more pleasant, and this, in turn, translates to better care for each other and ultimately, our patients.