7 Ways to Get Patients in the Holiday Spirit

The end of the year presents a series of holidays that seem to come one after another and be over in the blink of an eye. But while you’re in the whirlwind of shopping for Christmas gifts for employees you work with, it is important to keep the simple virtue of the holiday spirit in mind. If you’re a doctor, nurse, or hospital staff leader, you can often feel like the holidays are put on the back burner. People don’t get sick or injured according to any timeline, and there are many times when patients will be in the hospital during the holidays. There are many emotions surrounding patient care during this time of the year, but keeping things festive can lighten the mood. Here are seven ways to get your patients in the holiday spirit.

1: Sing Carols

The simple, traditional joys of the holiday season can truly lift your patients’ spirits. Bringing well-known songs to the hospital lobby, the food court, and patient rooms is incredibly festive. Find choruses and singing groups in your area that would be open to performing at your hospital. This is something that colleges and high schools would love to do to support the community. If you can’t find such groups, your staff can even sing simple songs that they know by heart. A holiday performance is guaranteed to bring smiles to the faces of your patients. Also, a show like this is meaningful and a great way to end the year on a happy note.

2: Small Custom Holiday Items

The small things matter just as much as big events. When you take the time to make items like custom cups with holiday messages, a patient's room can look more cheerful. Switching out standard hospital pens for custom screen printed holiday pens can make the rote task of filling out forms a small holiday greeting. Useful items like hats and socks that patients like to wear during their stay can also gain a holiday theme when you switch out regular hospital socks for versions with seasonal design accents.

3: Wear Holiday Scrubs

When everyone dresses up for the holidays at work, there is more spirit in the air! Instead of wearing standard scrubs, see if your staff can wear green or red hospital scrubs. This uniform color scheme reflects the traditional colors of Christmas and brightens up the general mood. If you are a hospital director, you can also order custom holiday logos when you get bulk sets of holiday scrubs for your staff. Your staff can make their scrubs even more festive if they wear a Santa hat!

4: Organize Special Events

What makes the holidays a special time of year are the extra events that are planned, like special performances, concerts, and parties. Do you know of any volunteer or high school groups that would like to perform a Christmas play or orchestra concert at your hospital? It’s also a great idea to throw a festive reception with some refreshments for hospital visitors who are coming to see loved ones. See what you can do to schedule some seasonal events that mark this as a special time of year.

5: Holiday Meals

Your hospital cafeteria offers the standard pizza and sandwiches all year round, but around the holidays, make a special effort to provide more festive foods. At Thanksgiving and Christmas, have the kitchen prepare healthy versions of traditional meals that include turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and mashed potatoes. Having all the comfort foods will remind your patients of home and lighten their spirits. Also, encourage family members to come to eat with their loved ones on the major holidays to make sure your patients have plenty of company when it matters.

6: Greeting Cards & Small Gifts

Reach your patients on a more personal level by addressing them individually with warm holiday greetings. Send them a holiday card that you have signed yourself. It is also a great idea to throw in small trinket gifts like custom notebooks or other useful gifts. If time permits, come visit your patients, shake their hands, and stay for a chat too. Showing that they are a valued patient will mean a lot to them, especially during this time of year.

7: Decorate!

Another way to make your patients feel festive is to create a joyful environment. Decorating the halls and individual rooms with tinsel, miniature trees, holiday lights, and poinsettias brings your hospital into the holiday season. Seeing the colorful lights and familiar sights of reindeer and snowmen can boost the spirit of many patients — especially children.

How do you want to get your patients in the holiday spirit this year?