What is CAREmunication and why does it matter in healthcare?

CAREmunication is a communication framework developed to help healthcare leaders engage staff more effectively through intentional, empathetic dialogue. It positions communication as the single most impactful skill in healthcare settings, influencing both patient experience and staff satisfaction. Burl Stamp argues that middle managers must lead the charge in adopting this approach to stabilize teams and reduce turnover.

Why are middle managers so important to employee engagement in healthcare?

Gallup research shows that 70% of the variance in team engagement is tied to the team's manager, making middle managers a critical — yet often overlooked — lever. Burl Stamp contends that middle managers are frequently more burned out than frontline staff, yet they are the primary point of connection between C-suite strategy and day-to-day operations. Investing in their development is essential for building resilient, engaged healthcare teams.

How are generational changes affecting workforce engagement strategies in healthcare?

Post-pandemic, employees across generations have shifted their expectations around work-life balance, purpose, and management style. Burl Stamp highlights that younger healthcare workers in particular are reshaping what engagement looks like, requiring leaders to move beyond traditional management frameworks. Organizations must adapt their development and communication strategies to meet these evolving workforce values.

Improving Employee Engagement Through CAREm...

Improving Employee Engagement Through CAREmunication — A Conversation with Burl Stamp

In this episode of I Don't Care, host Dr. Kevin Stevenson speaks with Burl Stamp, President of Stamp & Chase, about the critical role middle managers play in driving employee engagement in healthcare. Stamp argues that middle managers are more burned out than frontline workers, yet remain the single greatest lever for reducing turnover and improving team culture. The conversation highlights communication — specifically his CAREmunication framework — as the most impactful skill healthcare leaders can develop.

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By Kevin Stevenson · August 21, 2025, 11:00 AM UTCBurl StampCommunication SkillsEmployee EngagementHealthcare Leadership

Key takeaways

Middle managers are more burned out than frontline workers but hold the greatest influence over team engagement and retention.

According to Gallup, 70% of the variance in team engagement is attributable to the manager, making management development a top priority.

Generational shifts and post-COVID workforce values require healthcare organizations to rethink how they train and support middle management.

With the healthcare landscape seeing many evolving changes, employee engagement is no longer just a buzzword — it’s now a business imperative. Amid rising turnover and persistent staffing shortages, organizations are under pressure to build resilient, engaged teams. According to Gallup, 70% of the variance in team engagement is tied to one factor: the team’s manager. As post-pandemic workforce challenges persist, this stat underscores the critical, yet often overlooked, role of middle management.

So, how can healthcare leaders harness the influence of middle managers to build a stronger, more engaged workforce?

That’s the question at the heart of the latest episode of I Don’t Care, hosted by Dr. Kevin Stevenson. Joining him is Burl Stamp, President and Founder of Stamp & Chase, a consultancy focused on transforming workplace culture in healthcare. Drawing from his background as a former CEO of a hospital, Stamp shares insights into what truly drives engagement and why the real solution lies in supporting those caught between the C-suite and the frontlines.

The key topics of conversation are…

Burl believes that middle managers are more burned out than frontline workers, yet they hold the key to stabilizing teams and reducing turnover.
From patient experience to staff satisfaction, communication remains the single most impactful skill in healthcare settings, and middle managers have to lead the charge.
Burl addresses how generational changes and post-COVID values are reshaping expectations, making it vital to rethink management development and engagement strategies.

Burl Stamp is the President and Founder of Stamp & Chase, a firm that helps healthcare organizations improve patient and employee experiences through leadership development and communication training. Prior to founding the company in 2003, he served as the CEO of Phoenix Children’s Hospital and held leadership roles within BJC HealthCare in St. Louis. Today, his work centers on helping healthcare organizations navigate workforce instability by empowering middle management, a focus born from both personal experience and industry need.

Article written by MarketScale.