Slack
Microsoft Teams.
In the moment
Recognition happens as work is completed, not weeks later during reviews.
Employee Recognition for Healthcare Teams
HeyTaco is employee recognition software for healthcare teams that helps organizations run meaningful healthcare employee recognition programs across roles, shifts, and departments—inside Slack and Microsoft Teams.
What Is Employee Recognition for Healthcare Teams?
Employee recognition for healthcare teams is the practice of acknowledging contributions across clinical, support, and operations roles—helping people feel valued even when shifts don't overlap and critical work happens behind the scenes.
Why Recognition Matters Even More in Healthcare
Healthcare isn't like other industries. The pressure is constant, the stakes are high, and the people doing the hardest work are often the least visible.
-
Shifts don't overlap
Night and weekend teams rarely see leadership or peers from other shifts. Recognition that happens in meetings misses most of the workforce.
-
Behind-the-scenes heroes
From EVS to IT to supply chain, the people who keep hospitals running rarely get recognized in the moment.
-
Emotional toll is high
Healthcare workers carry more than workload—they carry emotional weight. Feeling seen helps build resilience.
Why Recognition Breaks Down In Healthcare
Hospital turnover runs at 18.3%[1]—and 52% of nurses[2] report burnout. When critical work goes unnoticed, people leave.
-
Fragmented teams
Hospital staff are spread across shifts, departments, and locations. Important work often happens outside of meetings or overlapping hours.
-
Invisible work
From EHR migrations to system fixes and prep work, the effort that keeps things running rarely gets recognized in the moment.
-
Delayed appreciation
Recognition often arrives weeks or months later, if it arrives at all. When appreciation misses the moment, it loses its impact.
-
No time to pause
When patient care demands constant attention, stopping to recognize someone feels like a luxury no one can afford.
-
Formal programs fall flat
Annual awards and formal programs feel disconnected from daily reality. They miss the small moments that matter most.
-
No easy system
Without a simple tool that fits into existing workflows, recognition becomes another task that never happens.
Case Study
How Duke University Increased Peer Recognition 10x with HeyTaco
The Internal Medicine Residency at Duke University needed healthcare team recognition software that fit their high-pressure environment where hard work often goes unnoticed.
That's why the Internal Medicine Residency team at Duke University turned to HeyTaco.
The result?
A 1000% increase in peer-to-peer recognition.
“We needed a way to support our residents emotionally—and help them feel seen by their peers.”
HeyTaco gave residents a simple, lightweight way to recognize one another for compassion, teamwork, and stepping up under pressure. Tacos flew for everything from covering a late-night shift to staying calm during tough patient cases.
“It changed the way our team interacted. It created a culture of support, which is critical in medicine.”
Tacos didn't just boost morale—they helped reduce burnout and built stronger relationships among clinicians. At a time when emotional resilience mattered more than ever, HeyTaco became a tool for care—not just communication.
Signs Recognition Is Breaking Down in Your Healthcare Team
These warning signs often go unnoticed until they're already hurting morale and retention.
-
Night Shifts Feel Invisible
The team working nights and weekends rarely sees leadership. Their effort goes unacknowledged.
-
Only Clinical Work Gets Noticed
EVS, IT, supply chain, and admin staff keep hospitals running but rarely receive public recognition.
-
Support Staff Go Unrecognized
Behind-the-scenes heroes handle EHR migrations, system fixes, and prep work—without anyone noticing.
-
Appreciation Doesn't Cross Shifts
Recognition happens in the moment but doesn't carry across handoffs. The next shift never knows.
-
Burnout Builds Without Warning
Staff carry emotional weight and demanding workloads. Nobody notices until it's too late.
-
New Hires Feel Isolated
New staff members don't feel welcomed or valued. They're learning the job but not feeling part of the team.
How Employee Recognition Fits Into Healthcare Work
Employee recognition works best when it happens in the tools teams already use every day.
Across shifts
Appreciation is visible to teammates coming on and off shift, even when teams don't overlap.
In existing tools
Recognition lives in Slack and Microsoft Teams, so it doesn't require new meetings or systems.
How HeyTaco Supports Healthcare Teams
HeyTaco is employee recognition software built for healthcare environments, helping teams run consistent healthcare employee recognition programs without adding complexity or process.
In Slack and Microsoft Teams
Recognition happens inside the tools teams already use every day. No new logins, no extra workflows, no meetings to schedule.
Visible across shifts
Recognition is shared with the whole team, so appreciation carries across handoffs, departments, and time zones.
Simple enough to stick
Sending recognition takes seconds. When it's easy, people actually do it — even on busy shifts. No training, no rollout, just a quick message of appreciation.
Human
Short, imperfect, and genuine recognition feels human — not scripted or forced. It keeps appreciation personal instead of procedural.
What Healthcare Teams See When Recognition Works
When recognition fits into daily workflows, employee engagement in healthcare improves—without adding tools or meetings.
-
Stronger Employee Engagement
Well-designed healthcare employee recognition programs help teams stay engaged, connected, and motivated—even in high-stress environments.
-
Better Cross-Team Connection
Clinicians, support staff, and operations teams feel more connected to each other and the mission.
-
Higher Morale Across Shifts
Recognition reaches people working nights, weekends, and behind the scenes.
-
Burnout Is Addressed Earlier
Small moments of appreciation help teams feel seen before burnout happens.
Why Healthcare Teams Choose HeyTaco
Because it delivers impact without introducing risk or complexity.
☑️
No new systems to manage
HeyTaco runs inside Slack and Microsoft Teams, so there's nothing new to deploy, secure, or maintain.
🌐
Easy to roll out across departments
Tech teams can enable recognition for clinical, IT, and admin staff without custom workflows or long change management cycles.
🌱
Adoption happens naturally
Because recognition is simple and lightweight, teams actually use it — without training sessions or enforcement.
🤝
Low overhead, high trust
HeyTaco doesn't touch patient data or clinical systems. It lives where teams already communicate.
No EHR access. No PHI required.
Start Recognizing Healthcare Work as it Happens
See how HeyTaco fits into the tools your team already uses. No new systems.
4.8 on G2 • Trusted by 3k+ teams worldwide
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about healthcare turnover, burnout, and recognition.
Why do healthcare workers quit?
Hospital turnover runs at 18.3%[1] annually, with nurse turnover at 16.4%. The primary drivers are burnout from understaffing and feeling undervalued when critical work goes unnoticed—especially for behind-the-scenes roles and night shifts.
How do I reduce burnout in healthcare?
52% of nurses report burnout symptoms[2], often starting when effort goes unnoticed under constant pressure. Regular peer recognition helps people feel seen, building resilience against demanding workloads and long shifts.
What are healthcare employee recognition programs?
Healthcare employee recognition programs are structured ways for organizations to consistently recognize and appreciate staff across roles, shifts, and departments. When supported by employee recognition software like HeyTaco, these programs stay lightweight, timely, and easy to maintain.
Can recognition align with our hospital values?
Yes. Many healthcare organizations tag recognition to values like compassion, teamwork, patient safety, or going above and beyond—so appreciation reinforces what matters most to your culture.
What kind of work gets recognized in healthcare?
Anything the team values. Covering a shift, helping a colleague during a tough case, mentoring new staff, staying late for a patient, solving an IT issue, or doing the invisible prep work that keeps the hospital running.
Does HeyTaco access patient data or EHR systems?
No. HeyTaco does not connect to your EHR or access patient records. It runs inside Slack or Microsoft Teams and supports recognition messages your team posts there. We recommend keeping recognition messages free of PHI.
Is HeyTaco appropriate for healthcare environments with privacy requirements?
HeyTaco is used for peer recognition inside Slack or Microsoft Teams and is not intended for sharing patient information. Teams typically keep messages free of PHI, just like any other internal chat message. If you have specific policies or compliance requirements, we can review them with you.
Is HeyTaco HIPAA compliant?
HeyTaco is a recognition tool that does not need access to patient records or EHR systems. It is intended for appreciation messages and teams typically avoid including PHI. If your organization requires a formal review or a BAA, we can discuss your requirements during a demo.
Does HeyTaco work for teams that operate across shifts?
Yes. Recognition stays visible in Slack or Microsoft Teams, so appreciation carries across handoffs even when teams do not overlap.
Do we need to add another tool or system for staff to learn?
No. HeyTaco lives inside Slack and Microsoft Teams. If your team already uses one of those, there is almost nothing new to learn. See how HeyTaco works →
How long does setup take?
Most teams can start in minutes. Install HeyTaco, choose your defaults, and start recognizing work right away.
Can we keep recognition lightweight and optional?
Yes. HeyTaco is designed for short, genuine recognition in the moment. There is no scripting, no required prompts, and no forced participation.
Learn more about how employee recognition works →
Sources
- NSI Nursing Solutions – 2025 National Health Care Retention Report (18.3% hospital turnover)
- HealthLeaders Media – Healthcare burnout rates (52% of nurses report burnout)
- Becker's Hospital Review – Cost of nurse turnover ($61,110 average)