Roscommon Hospital recently launched the #hellomynameis campaign which aims to enhance compassionate care by reminding healthcare professionals to introduce themselves to patients in all healthcare interactions.
And the main message is to promote high quality communication in order to treat patients with dignity and respect.
Launching the campaign, Ursula Morgan, Director of Nursing at Roscommon Hospital, said,
“introducing yourself is a simple and powerful expression of respect, care and compassion”.
#hellomynameis is a compassionate care initiative founded by the late British hospital consultant and terminally-ill cancer patient Dr Kate Granger. During a hospital stay in 2013, Kate observed that many staff did not introduce themselves. #hellomynameis is about more than simple introductions. It is all about making a human connection and establishing a relationship with patients on a firm foundation of mutual respect and trust.
Marie Doorly, Interim General Manager of Roscommon Hospital said,
“This is an excellent initiative and particularly in a small hospital, where we pride ourselves on being friendly, caring and engaging with patients. A simple thing like introducing yourself can put patients at ease and positively influence their experiences of our healthcare system”.
This campaign is simple – reminding staff to go back to basics and introduce themselves to patients properly. The late Dr Kate Granger spoke about this as “the first rung on the ladder to providing compassionate care” and saw it as the start of making a vital human connection, beginning a therapeutic relationship and building trust between patients and healthcare staff”.
The initiative is being led by the Patient Experience committee in RUH and is supported by the Saolta Group Patient Council. Find out more at hellomynamesis.org.uk or on Twitter #hellomynameis