New Study Shows Healthcare Worker Satisfaction Can Improve By Taking “Blame and Shame” Out
A new study looked at the CANDOR method—a timely, thorough, and just response when unexpected events cause patient harm—shifting the culture from “deny and defend” to “disclosure and apology.” By shifting this mindset, when medical mistakes are made, it could improve burnout and improve job satisfaction.
Applying the CANDOR method can improve workplace satisfaction and trust in senior leadership. The study found that these two issues being improved can significantly change staff burnout and turnover.
Doug Wojcieszak, a consultant on the study, said, “When something goes wrong—which happens often in nursing homes—the historical response of ‘blame and shame’ creates a culture of fear. No one talks, and workers wind up leaving because they don’t feel that they’re respected or valued. If a CNA or nurse makes an honest mistake because the system is bad, that’s because of a bad system—not a bad clinician.”
The study found three main points of using the CANDOR method:
- Improving safety and quality of care and preventing patient harm
- Supporting patients, families, and caregivers
- Reducing litigation frequency and costs
“Improving patient care and worker mental health is always the priority. With this new study, it’s important we look at the core—taking responsibility for mistakes. Errors happen, but what we do after that matters” – Joe Kubulak, Chief Operating Officer at SpecialtyRx.
