Healthy Workforce Consulting

Your Department’s Culture Problem Isn’t Going Away.

It’s Getting Worse

Healthcare leaders everywhere are facing a silent crisis.

Recruitment and retention are in free fall. Burnout rates are skyrocketing – up to 70% of healthcare workers are emotionally exhausted. And the numbers are staggering:

1 in 4 employees report experiencing high rates of toxic behavior at work
58% of nurses consider their work environment unhealthy
60% of nurses across all care settings have experienced bullying or incivility
Workplace incivility costs organizations $2 billion every day

A toxic culture is the #1 predictor of staff turnover – ten times more powerful than pay. Left unchecked, this culture crisis costs organizations billions, drains morale, and compromises patient care.

If your department is experiencing tension, high turnover, or disruptive behaviors, the problem isn’t just “bad apples.” It’s a systemic issue and without intentional action, it will keep eroding trust, engagement, and performance.

The Healthy Workforce Institute’s Department Culture Change Initiative (DCCI)

This is not a workshop.

It’s a one-year, fully guided transformation intervention that equips leaders, physicians, and all team members to create and sustain a professional, respectful, high-performing culture.

We don’t just train your team. We embed the culture change, so it sticks.

Here’s how we do it:

Phase 1: Heighten Awareness – We conduct a comprehensive culture assessment, engage in candid conversations with the interprofessional team, and establish targeted training to heighten awareness on long standing disruptive behaviors that undermine safety and respect.
Phase 2: Create & Communicate a Clear Vision – We create a Compact of Professional Behaviors with input from the entire interprofessional team, establish healthy workforce best practices, and engage employees as Team Champions to drive momentum.
Phase 3: Develop Team Skills – You can’t assume adult professionals know how to treat each other – you must teach them. The good news is that communicating with honesty and respect, giving and receiving feedback, conflict resolution and more, are skills that can be learned. We provide the content and systems needed for ongoing skill development.
Phase 4: Hardwire the New Norm – Now that you’ve transformed your culture, you want it to stay that way. We hardwire and sustain healthy workforce best practices through sustainability plans and proven strategies to make respect and professionalism your default culture.

Outcomes – As part of the Department Culture Change Initiative, we conduct baseline and reassessment surveys using our validated culture assessment tool. This process allows us to measure your department’s starting point, track progress over time, and quantify the impact of the program. The data doesn’t just show improvement; it provides leaders with actionable insights to sustain a healthy, respectful, and high-performing culture long after the initiative ends.

Why It Works

Healthcare organizations that have implemented our DCCI have seen results in just six months:

46% stronger leader and team relationships

43% improved team, physician, and provider relationships

42% drop in witnessed disruptive behaviors

40% drop in experienced disruptive behaviors

25% improved retention

32% improved overall culture

This isn’t just culture change. It’s culture transformation that sticks. Your department becomes a place where people feel valued, stay longer, and perform better. And that means safer care, stronger teams, and better patient outcomes.

If You’re Ready to Stop Talking About the Problem and Start Fixing It

The mark of a successful organization isn’t whether it has problems it’s whether it has the same problems year after year.
With the Department Culture Change Initiative, you don’t just manage culture you transform it.

Let’s take your culture from where it is to where you want it to be.

To learn more about this initiative, contact us at [email protected]

“I am thrilled with our NICU’s healthy workforce journey. We are seeing measurable improvements in our RN Engagement survey and the department is outperforming national benchmarks in quality, interprofessional collaboration, and leadership access.”

"As the Chief Nursing Officer, I am thrilled with the profound and lasting changes I’ve witnessed since implementing HWF practices. Not only did I observe immediate improvements during my rounds, but the transformation in our unit cultures has been remarkable. Our team members have fully embraced these practices, and the positive impact is clear. We’re now successfully expanding this engagement to two more units in our hospital, with strong participation from our leaders, team members, and providers. The momentum is truly inspiring."

"Before working with the Healthy Workforce Institute (HWI), our critical care unit was a toxic environment that was overwhelming and challenging. The HWI team provided the tools and courage we needed to address negative behaviors in the moment, which completely transformed our culture. Four years later, the department is unrecognizable—staff are collaborative, engaged, and love their jobs. The program didn’t just change our unit; it changed how we work together, creating a positive, supportive environment. I’m incredibly grateful for the transformation."

"Before partnering with the Healthy Workforce Institute (HWI), my team faced low morale, burnout, and incivility, resulting in significant turnover. HWI provided us with essential tools for improving communication and addressing incivility proactively. The impact was immediate: our engagement score rose to 92.3%, turnover dropped, and we started attracting top talent. Our department is now recognized as a great place to work. As a leader, I feel empowered, and our patient care outcomes have improved significantly. This program truly works."

"Before working with the Healthy Workforce Institute (HWI), our team was dealing with issues of incivility and struggling to work well together. Many staff members were hesitant to speak up, and we knew something had to change. HWI came in at the perfect time. They were like a breath of fresh air, helping our team develop crucial communication skills, find their voices, and build trust. Since completing the certification program, incivility has significantly decreased, and even the quietest team members are now speaking up, knowing their opinions matter. The changes have been monumental, and our team is now working together better than ever."

"Before the Healthy Workforce Institute (HWI), our NICU was plagued by toxic relationships, gossip, and a lack of respect. Silence around disruptive behaviors was the norm, making it difficult to address the issues. Bringing in HWI brought a crucial awareness that staying silent equals acceptance. With the tools and scripts provided, we've started having the hard conversations needed to change our culture. Our engagement scores have steadily improved, and while it's still a work in progress, our nurses are beginning to feel more empowered to speak up. This program has made a significant impact, and I’m confident that the hard work we’re putting in now will continue to pay off."

"Being a part of the Healthy Workforce Initiative has been invigorating. This program has significantly enhanced workplace harmony and leadership growth. The support and insights provided have been instrumental in improving operational efficiency and outcomes. I am amazed at the positive impact a healthy workforce has on achieving optimal results. Renee and her team are to be commended for this phenomenal program. We're in our third year, and our first cohort of leaders is already paying it forward. Thank you, Healthy Workforce Team, for being difference makers. We are improving each day!"

“Since partnering with the Healthy Workforce Institute, we’ve experienced significant positive changes in our department’s culture. Our teams are more engaged than ever, leading to numerous wins and an overall sense of accomplishment. The strategies we’ve implemented have improved our workflow and fostered a more supportive and collaborative environment. The transformation has been remarkable, and we are grateful for the continued guidance and support from the Healthy Workforce Institute.”

"Before working with the Healthy Workforce Institute (HWI), we struggled with a toxic work culture, and our engagement and safety scores were at an all-time low. We lacked the tools to give feedback and hold each other accountable. HWI’s certification program transformed how we worked as an interprofessional team, providing the platform to create a healthy work environment. Since then, we’ve seen an 18% increase in engagement scores, better communication, and a more respectful and professional team dynamic. I’m proud to be part of this program and see its positive impact on our department."

“Working with the Healthy Workforce Institute has truly transformed our department. The changes we’ve implemented have profoundly impacted our workplace culture. There’s a new level of energy and commitment among the staff, and we’ve seen significant improvements in morale and productivity. The strategies provided by the Institute have been practical and effective, helping us to address and overcome various challenges.
One of the most noticeable changes is the improved communication within the team. We are now more cohesive and supportive of each other, which has made a huge difference in our daily operations. The continuous support and resources from the Institute have been invaluable, allowing us to sustain these positive changes and keep moving forward. Overall, the Healthy Workforce Institute partnership has been a game-changer for us, and we look forward to continuing to grow from here.”

"The HWI is a much needed resource to the healthcare setting. Experiencing a healthcare environment in which people are tired, experiencing PTSD from pandemic work, turnover rates at an all-time high, new hires with little or no hands on patient care experience, inexperienced leaders, and the tsunami of worker shortages are all adding to the turbulence of the setting. Leaders need the skills to address these tumultuous times. I've had the opportunity to work with the HWI while at two different healthcare organizations. The impact of their guidance in equipping leaders to handle the resulting disruptive behaviors has enabled us to move to a more respectful work culture. The work with the HWI should be a requirement of all leaders working in healthcare."

"Dr. Renee Thompson has generated a Healthy Workforce culture that has empowered all staff to recognize and commit to a ‘zero tolerance’ for incivility. Thank you Dr. Thompson for sharing your expertise that led to our organizations’ ability to identify and address issues so that we have a “Healthy Workforce Environment."

“As a large specialty practice, we have invested a great deal of energy and time on becoming a patient-centric organization. We have utilized many of Dr. Kusy’s teachings and approaches that were inclusive, engaging, and effective…the stimuli that made our large specialty practice one of the most successful within the entire corporate structure, as documented by improvement of our net promoter scores.”

“When I was asked to be part of the Healthy Workforce Institute’s deep dive I knew I had to take advantage of the opportunity. The staff has really embraced the change and they know we have a lot to work on. This opportunity has taught me a lot and has allowed me to grow as a leader. Thank you!”

“Dr. Mitch Kusy was not only a consummate content expert on healthcare leadership, but one of the most engaging, responsive, and collaborative consultants with whom I have ever worked. Mitch was able to seamlessly incorporate evidence-based research to support critical learning concepts tailored to healthcare and listened to what we needed. The kudos to Dr. Mitch Kusy are not just words—the evaluation from our medical leaders demonstrated significant application of learning, providing them with the cutting-edge to be more successful in the teams they lead. I would also be remiss if I didn't mention that Mitch is also an absolute joy to work with.”

“As the Executive Medical Director of Minneapolis Children’s Medical Center, I engaged Dr. Mitch Kusy to develop medical leaders to assume greater team and organizational leadership roles. His translation of research to practice-based leadership and outstanding facilitation skills coupled with his design of unique learning opportunities contributed to medical leadership successes. And Mitch was fun to work with. As a result, leaders sought him out for additional coaching and team building venues.”

“Renee has been a great resource for myself and my leaders. Renee set the foundation to help us address bullying and paved the way to a healthier culture. She provided us with great tools and shared her experience and knowledge with our staff. I am forever grateful for the time I was able to spend with her.”

"Our organization was indeed fortunate to experience Dr. Mitch Kusy and his rigorous approach to improving organizational culture, while also making everyone feel comfortable and relaxed every single time! Mitch led us on a 9 month journey that started with only three departments but ultimately “infected” the entire hospital with each department anxious to get on the bandwagon for change. It was thrilling to see so many staff become engaged and excited. I attribute Mitch’s rich understanding of human behavior and his broad experience with myriad healthcare organizations as keys to success. We were delighted to work with him and recommend him and his approach to any complex organization in search of improvement."