The challenge

To support frontline staff during the pandemic, most health care providers rapidly multiplied the number of employee well-being and resilience resources. While these initiatives were essential, they were often uncoordinated and focused only on trauma response—while other employee needs, such as social and financial health, were unmet.

The organization

Novant Health-New Hanover Regional Medical Center (NH-NHRMC) is an 800–bed hospital with outpatient facilities located in Wilmington, North Carolina. In February 2021, New Hanover Regional Medical Center joined Novant Health, an integrated network that operates across four states.

The approach

In 2019, NH-NHRMC’s team reviewed their existing resilience initiatives and identified areas where employees needed additional support. Based on this work, the CHRO defined five elements of employee resilience: spiritual, physical, mental, social, and financial. The system’s HR and nursing departments then created and led a resilience-specific shared governance council with committees assigned to address each element.

The result

NH-NHRMC leveraged their council structure during the pandemic to amplify and distribute community donations, along with providing staff emotional and mental support. Moving forward, the council will refocus around long-term resilience needs to redefine NH-NHRMC’s employer value proposition as a best-in-class supporter of employee well-being.