Argosy Medical Center, a 400-bed critical care facility located in the Northeast, has been in operation for more than 18 years. Its mission statement is to provide quality healthcare services with the highest standard of excellence from employees who are dedicated to caring and patient satisfaction.

At one time, staff were really excited to be part of the Argosy family, and the patients noticed this attitude and enthusiasm. Argosy became the hospital of choice because the patients felt that the staff really cared about them, which made the patient experience positive regardless of their health status. Patient exit surveys were excellent, and patients frequently wrote glowing comments about the staff’s genuine concern and about what a wonderful employer the hospital must be to have such a dedicated workforce.

In the last couple of years, however, the employees seem to have lost their passion.

This has resulted in higher patient complaints of poor customer service. Management has attributed this deteriorated employee attitude to higher workloads and burnout. Training was instituted. Employees are required to attend a refresher course, every year, in an effort to keep them motivated and in tune with the hospital mission and to reenergize them about the workplace. The course includes a review of the hospital values, mission, and standards of service that everyone is expected to follow. Because the course is only for one hour, participants do not get to interact, ask questions, or give feedback afterward. In fact, since the refresher course was implemented, employees have not been surveyed to get their feedback or insights. Because the staff are constantly busy, they have had no opportunity to talk among themselves, with their managers, or in focus groups about the decline in employee morale and the poor customer service. Everyone knows the problem is there, but no time has been put aside to address it, other than an organizational reminder to give good customer service regardless of the situation.

Argosy’s chief executive officer (CEO)

has summoned you, the director of the OD department, to come up with a way to address the problem that is affecting the hospital bottom line, not to mention the increased employee turnover and absenteeism.

Case Study Questions
1. What interventions would you recommend? Come up with two options.

2. Defend your preferred option to the CEO and include a timeline for your plan.