Starting as a social media campaign, the 'Hello my name is…' campaign has influenced healthcare professionals around the world to introduce themselves to patients as the first step in delivering care.
Chris Pointon was recently in Australia promoting the “Hello my name is…” campaign that he started four years ago with his wife, Kate Granger. Starting initially as a social media campaign under the hashtag #hellomynameis, the campaign has influenced healthcare professionals around the world to introduce themselves to patients as the first step in delivering care.
During a hospital stay in 2013, Kate, who was a doctor as well as a cancer patient, noticed that most of the staff looking after her didn’t introduce themselves before delivering her care. “It felt incredibly wrong that such a basic step in communication was missing,” wrote Kate in her blog. From this experience they started their campaign to encourage and remind healthcare staff about how important introductions are.
“It seems like such a simple thing,” wrote Kate, “but knowing the name of the doctor who is treating you can transform the experience of care, I firmly believe it is not just about knowing someone’s name, but it runs much deeper. It is about making a human connection, beginning a therapeutic relationship and building trust. In my mind it is the first rung on the ladder to providing compassionate care.”
The healthcare system, particularly for critical, terminal and emergency care, can be a frightening and alien place for many people. Campaigns like this that encourage staff to take a moment to slow down and concentrate on the person in front of them can make a huge difference to a patient, and their family’s, experience. Any small way staff can help alleviate some of the stress felt by patients and help make the healthcare system more accessible has got to be worth it.
The campaign now
Since Kate’s death in 2016, Chris has been keeping the campaign alive through conference talks across the world, writing and social media. On their website you can find video of Chris speaking at a TEDx talk earlier this year as well as videos of Kate talking about the campaign and her experience.
How can you get involved?
The “Hello, my name is…” website has a range of resources and downloadable posters and logos for anyone to use to promote the program and to use on name badges and lanyards.
You can find out more about the campaign on the “#Hello, my name is…” website
