I Love My Job in Health Care. But One Part of It Is Very Lonely.

"I can't figure out how to connect with my co-workers, which is ironic since I am a behavioral health provider. I'm located with doctors who refer patients to me for counseling. I love the work! The doctors like and respect my work! Clients say I'm helpful! When I do interact with doctors and other staff, they are friendly and I can always reach them via email or Teams. There are several people on staff who I think could become great work friends."

"But ... when I was new, I received a company orientation but none on our physical worksite (like where/how to order supplies, when the morning "huddle" is, not even where the doctor's offices are located, and this information isn't on the intranet). I'm the only one in my discipline in the building, and I meet virtually with my peers twice a month, but that's not the same."

"I've asked several times to be included in the monthly provider meeting at my site (my peers attend at their sites) and was invited exactly once in two years. Complicating things is my mobility impairment, so I can't easily stroll down the hall and hope for a chance meeting. Everyone is super busy because it's health care, and most people (including me) don't have a set lunch or break time. I really like this job, but I'm lonely as talking to clients isn't social."

A behavioral health provider feels respected professionally but struggles to form social connections with co-workers. The provider received a general company orientation but no in-person site orientation covering practical details and meeting times. The provider is the sole practitioner of that discipline in the building and only meets peers virtually twice a month. Repeated requests to join the monthly on-site provider meeting resulted in a single invitation over two years. Mobility impairment limits spontaneous hallway interactions and unpredictable schedules reduce overlap for breaks. A practical first step is to request the standing calendar invitation for the regular provider meeting.

Read at Slate Magazine