Engagement Touchdown: How Asante Achieved an 81% Participation Rate Through Gamification

Background

Asante, a healthcare provider with over 6,000 employees, sought to strengthen engagement across its organization through a comprehensive survey initiative in partnership with People Element. Through a strategic blend of creativity, accountability, and team-based incentives, Asante achieved an impressive 81% participation rate, motivating staff and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

High Participation Through Gamification

To encourage maximum participation, Asante’s Communications and Marketing team implemented a football-themed engagement strategy that inspired employees across its hospital and clinic locations to get involved in the survey process. Here’s how they made it happen:

Themed Incentives & Visuals: The team crafted eye-catching flyers and posters, complete with QR codes for easy survey access, and distributed them widely across hospital locations and Asante Physician Partners (APP) clinics. Posters were placed at staff entrances to serve as daily reminders. The football theme not only helped to create a sense of excitement but also ensured the survey process was visually engaging and accessible.

Kick-Off Day Event: Asante launched the survey with a celebratory “Kick-Off Day” held in the cafeterias of its three hospitals. To make the day fun and memorable, staff were encouraged to wear their favorite team jerseys, creating a relaxed, team-oriented atmosphere. HR representatives were on-site to assist employees with accessing the survey and answering questions, while tailgate-themed snacks brought a festive feel to the day. Kiosk stations allowed staff to complete the survey right there, eliminating barriers to participation. This community-based approach set an enthusiastic tone from day one.

Goal-Oriented Prize Incentives: With a focus on quick wins and sustained motivation, Asante set ambitious participation milestones for staff. Departments and individuals who met participation goals at 24 hours, 48 hours, and by the end of the first week were rewarded with a variety of prizes. This competitive spirit inspired employees to work together and rally around the survey, seeing it as a shared team effort with tangible rewards.

Consistent Communication & Leader Engagement: Asante maintained momentum with regular text and email updates featuring participation stats, encouraging staff to continue engaging with the survey. Leaders received daily participation reports, which they then shared with their teams, reinforcing a sense of unity and accountability. Toward the close of the survey period, when participation slowed, Asante introduced a final push to reach a 90% departmental participation rate. Departments that hit this goal entered a raffle to win Asante-branded swag, giving participation one last boost.

These combined efforts led to an outstanding 81% participation rate, a testament to the effectiveness of Asante’s creative approach to engagement. The football-themed gamification and prize incentives not only energized teams but also created a sense of unity and purpose, motivating employees across the organization to take part in the survey process.

A Proactive and Collaborative Approach to Action Planning

Asante wanted to ensure that high participation translated into meaningful outcomes through collaborative action planning, here’s how they approach it:

Training & Team Involvement: Leaders will receive training on platform use and action plan creation, empowering them to work with their teams on department-specific goals based on survey insights. This process encourages team ownership of improvements.

Accountability & Timelines: Leaders are responsible for implementing and tracking action plans with clear timelines, ensuring consistent progress and setting the stage for the next survey cycle.

The Role of People Element

A representative from Asante shares, “Honestly – the help and guidance that People Element has provided is second to none. The platform itself is very intuitive and easy to navigate – even then, if a question/concern comes up our People Element partners, from our Client Success Manager Joanna to Support, are always willing to step in and help or provide direction. The platform’s Knowledge Base is thorough and helps with quick self-service inquiries. I find that the training webinar alerts for the live virtual trainings are awesome value adds.”

Keys to Success & Lasting Impact

Asante’s success was fueled by a commitment to continuous improvement. With leadership focused on meaningful, team-driven changes, the organization reinforced a culture of growth that benefits staff, patients, and the community. Through People Element’s partnership, Asante set a best-in-class example of how to communicate and execute a successful survey.