Health Intelligence: Promoting health and wellness in healthcare
In her article Health Intelligence (H.Q.): Promoting health and wellness in healthcare, Michele Chaban MSW, RSW, Phd, suggests “if we want better health care, we need health and wellness to be an integral part of our care systems. We need to embody what we are trying to achieve.”
Chaban highlights a study by Dr. Bruce Barrett where patients dealing with ARI (Acute Respiratory Illness) were assigned to a control, exercise or meditation group for 8 weeks. While there were improved results among those in the exercise group, there were even greater benefits in those practicing mindfulness meditation. These changes also expanded into the workplace leading to less absenteeism. In fact the exercise group missed 48 % fewer days however the meditation group missed 76 % fewer days.
The reason why health and wellness is so fundamental to organizations is because no man is an island and no one works in solitude. When a worker gets sick, it disrupts the organizational flow of the workplace as his workload gets deferred and shifted onto his colleagues. In general, our viewpoint on promoting health is by addressing problems as they arise, through abstinence or practicing overt acts with good intent. According to Chaban “Practicing mindfulness and mindfulness meditation in the workplace is an overt act, encouraged and sanctioned by mindful leadership and followed through on by staff. The ripple effect onto patients and families should be evident.”
Studies in neuroscience are also showing the benefits of mindfulness meditation in terms of reduced stress, the power of individuals to self-regulate health and wellness, enhancing the ability to learn and create an environment where ones actions are considered in terms of “we” instead of “me”. The health care system is being run on the model of a business, with a focus on efficiency, productivity and numbers. However, the focus should be on the care and compassion in the system. Mindfulness meditation allows workers to be more caring and compassionate and to harbor an attitude of help for all. By promoting the practice of health and wellness among healthcare providers we essentially see ripple benefits, flowing down to those who seek health care and to the system as whole.
