Innovation Contest and Employee Work Experience in Primary Care

Objective: This study explored how administering an innovation contest was associated with work experiences among nurses, providers, and staff in primary care. Background: Innovation contests offer structured ways for employees to share ideas and engage in organizational problem-solving. Given high burnout and turnover in US primary care, such interventions may foster a more supportive work environment. Methods: All 778 employees across a health system’s primary care network were invited to submit and vote on ideas to improve recruitment, retention, and workflow. Senior leaders implemented ideas selected through voting. A follow-up survey measured feeling heard, organizational identification, job satisfaction, and burnout. Results: Employees aware of the contest reported greater organizational identification. Those who observed winning ideas being implemented reported higher levels of feeling heard, identification, and job satisfaction. Simply submitting or voting was not associated with differences. Conclusions: Acting on employee-generated ideas may improve workplace engagement and satisfaction in primary care.