"It came down to one word: “appreciation.” - Dr Lori Wik, General Internist, MSS VP and Chair, FEI project working group  (Left: Dr. Lori Wik)

The Kudos Project: making the workday more meaningful 

The Medical Staff Society (MSS) at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital in Cranbrook is using positive acknowledgement to make the days and working lives of physicians more meaningful through the Kudos Project.
 

Old school, but effective

The team entertained the idea of creating an app, but considered time constraints faced by physicians and digital fatigue, so went for an old-school pen and paper approach.

Kudos are notes of gratitude printed on colourful pads of paper resembling prescription pads. One colleague can appreciate another using checkboxes, and a comment section.

The slips are placed in the receiving colleagues’ mailbox, and recipients can then redeem it at the hospital café for a free treat. Once a month, every physician who sends a note is entered into a draw for a dinner at a local restaurant.
 

Small gestures matter 

Dr Wik has sent about everything from appreciating chats with a colleague at the nurses’ station, to recognizing a physician team member who unraveled a complex diagnosis.  

When the project first launched, its resounding success saw physicians write and receive 200 Kudos in the first month alone. It is now consistent at about 25-30 per month.
 

A ripple effect of positivity

Jill Bain, the Society’s Project Manager, says these simple acts of kindness are creating a “ripple effect” of positivity throughout the hospital community - from the hospital café manager’s enthusiasm, to many doctors are sharing their Kudos treat vouchers with nurses, hospital security, and other staff. 

Simple recognition and appreciation from others can impact an individual's well-being, and a community.

By taking the time to write a few words of gratitude to a colleague, the EKRH physicians are building an environment where they recognize each other’s achievements, kindness, and crucially—their humanity.
 

“There was an outpouring of appreciation. We had to do an emergency printing of more pads.” - Dr. Wik

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The project is replicable across other sites and health authorities, and creates major benefits while being cost-effective.