May Communication Tip

Health Care Community

Last month’s Communication Tip was a biggie for me personally and I cannot thank you all enough for the many messages of support and for the vulnerability of all the stories shared with me in response.   I was so moved in the experience of trusting the people of UCSF (and then to be rewarded with such love).  We have a wonderful community.  

This month, I wanted to delve a little deeper into this concept of a health care community.  

Many of us know that Americans have lost trust in medical professionals (dropping from 75% in 1966 to 33% in 2018).  This column and much research have identified some elements that promote patient trust in their clinicians.  But today, we can look at the trust that clinicians have for their organization.  

In a study of 165 clinicians with 1,132 patients, high trust for an institution (by clinicians who were trusted by their patients) was associated with 4 institutional values:

• An emphasis on quality
• An emphasis on communication and information
• Clinician cohesion
• A values alignment between clinicians and leaders

Many have focused on financial incentives as a way to deepen trust in an institution.  While being paid fairly for the work you do is key, money isn’t everything.  A focus on values and qualities may be even more important at helping to build trust.  

Seems we can all get behind quality, communication, and community.

Best,

Mike