Transition Healthcare From a State of 'Crisis' to 'High-Performance' in a Post-COVID-19 World
By Michael “Mike” J. Jones
Over time, InnovateHC has developed a proven track record of expertise in advising healthcare managers through leadership transitions and organizational change in governance structure, physician engagement, physician recruiting and retention, and value-based care. The global explosion of SARS-CoV-2 and its resulting COVID-19 pandemic in the first quarter of 2020 have shaken every facet of the collective U.S. healthcare system from supply chain to care delivery.
COVID-19 has brought healthcare leaders and clinical experts closer than ever to addressing the chaotic state of strained resources (availability of PPE, hospital beds, medical equipment, human resources, and beyond), the need to serve our communities, and uncertain financial resources. Tangentially, we cannot dismiss the emotional and mental health toll COVID-19 is taking on healthcare professionals, service providers, community leaders, and everyday citizens.
These uncharted times have brought out the best and the worst in our healthcare industry. Performance gaps are enhanced and more apparent than ever during times of crisis. We knew weaknesses were present, but the pressure to bridge the gaps has become more necessary than ever.
Introspection from the Trenches
What are we learning from our response to COVID-19? How do we apply these lessons to the future of healthcare in America?
How do healthcare systems navigate this transition in a way that ensures hospital and physician resources fully align with a common vision -- to serve our communities with high levels of excellence in system operations, service, and clinical interactions to improve the overall health of the communities we serve?
As healthcare systems plan the transition out of this crisis state, the time is now to engage in a full assessment of hospital/health system physician alignment, integration and engagement performance.
Focus on points of dysfunction in our organizations and in our relationships with key stakeholders. Do you know your style as a leader in a difficult conversation? Marlene Chism, author of “No-Drama Leadership,” provides great insight into the Avoider, the Aggressor, and the Accomplished. A little self-introspection before you dive into difficult conversations will help you engage key stakeholders in setting priorities for the future.
From Pandemic to Performance
The chaotic state of service delivery during the COVID-19 response has heightened the need for high levels of clinical expertise and leadership. The goal is to build healthy work environments with dramatically improved alignment with organization vision for the future. Listen to those who voice concerns. Gone are the days of labeling physicians and other health professionals as “high maintenance”; recognize they may have real needs that are not being met. Healthcare leaders must evaluate and meet those needs in an appropriate and timely manner.
InnovateHC offers a complimentary online self-assessment and 30-minute consultation to assist in transitioning physician enterprise organizations to higher levels of performance (https://www.innovatehc.net/freeassessment). InnovateHC also provides transitional and interim leadership to take physician integration, alignment, and engagement initiatives to a new level of performance, which results in continuous improvement in value-based outcomes.
Encourage key stakeholders (members of the healthcare system’s governance, senior leaders, managers, and physician/provider leaders) to complete the online organization self-assessment to frame opportunities for continuous improvement in physician integration, alignment, and engagement with a common vision for providing services.
Now, in the midst of the COVID-19 response, is an opportune time to envision the post-COVID-19 makeup of your healthcare system or facility, first by overcoming your individual biases and tendencies to look for someone to blame for the current state of affairs. Then, unite your organization in a collective effort to develop a shared vision of the future that includes continuous improvement in performance at all times.