The complexity of the health care system provides a unique dilemma for leaders. Health care systems are multi-dimensional; composed of numerous specialties, professional areas, and multidisciplinary interests who often have conflicting goals. Great leadership needs to capitalize on the diversity within health care organizations, efficiently utilize resources when designing management processes, and encourage personnel in diverse health areas to work towards common goals (AL-Sawai, 2013). A number of leadership approaches can be adapted to the healthcare setting to optimize management in this unique and complex environment.
1. How might different aspects of teams and teamwork contribute to team members thinking about quitting their jobs?
I believe we formed as a team rather than a group. Boddy (2011) suggests that the terms ‘team’ and ‘group’ can be used interchangeably, however Schein (1965, via Cantore, 2013) argues that some teams have three characteristics which groups do not possess. These characteristics are interdependence, mutually shared goals and synergy. Our team had the collective goal of delivering the presentation to a high standard and we relied on each other to achieve this goal, however whether or not we possessed synergy is questionable.
In a Healthcare environment, a leader by title is someone such as an administrator, director of nursing, supervisor, or a head nurse (manager). These “titled executives” have the task of creating overall healthcare plans, which are designed to instruct subordinates on their daily routines; and creating patient plan of care, which are designed to instruct subordinates on how individual patients will be cared for. Nonetheless, an effective leader, or “true leader”, is someone who positively motivates and encourages followers by clear, understandable instruction; and leads by example. (Atchison, 2004)
Demonstrate Leadership and Collaboration Within Interdisciplinary Healthcare Partners and Professional, Political, and/or Regulatory Organizations to Support Changes in Healthcare.
An effective team typically develops through several stages. Tuckman and Jensen developed a model for how teams should develop that includes five stages: forming, storming, norming, performing and adjourning (as cited in Martin ,2006 and Fulk, Bell,& Bodie ,2011). In forming, the first stage in team development, team members are introduced to the team’s purpose and goals(Martin, 2006 ; Fulk et al. ,2011). Fulk et al. (2011) explain that members are usually motivated and excited about working together to accomplish the specific goal, but they point out that interactions among team members can be affected by uncertainty about purpose, anxiety, mistrust ,and reluctance to share ideas and opinions. Nevertheless, despite such uncertainties, team members usually avoid conflict and move on to the next stage, storming(Fulk et al.,2011). Unlike the forming stage, the storming stage is marked by conflict (Martin...
The first point will require healthcare facilities to provide continuing education, mentoring or preceptors to new management staff. I will outline the job description and new responsibilities required for an effective leader. The second point deals with cost management investing in the future of your employees for long term success. Will healthcare facilities invest in their employees? The third point will deal with decrease in staff turnover and increasing patient care and satisfaction
(W. Lease, personal communication, July 23, 2010), the “unknown” of the recent health care reform legislation is an external influence that is most relevant to our organization, stated by William Lease, senior vice president of clinical support services. Mr. Lease states, that health care reform legislation will impact our organization in many ways; especially after 2014. While more employees will have health insurance coverage and there will be more patients to treat; the need for controlling costs and improving efficiency is i...
The long-term trend affecting the organization the most is the Affordable Care Act (ACA), known as Obamacare is anticipated to be a great challenge in the healthcare industry. Increasing state and federal budget taxes poses another threat on MUSC (Harrison, 2010). Increasing pressure to reduce healthcare costs is a threat to the company. Increasing demands of physicians and administrative staff for expensive medical technology is not a cost effective solution for the hospital and poses a threat to its accountability. Adverse demographic changes pose a threat to the organization. Size and organizational complexity can conspire to create seemingly insuperable barriers when it comes to improve patient care.
O’Neill & Cowman (2008) define a group as more than one person with diverse abilities joining forces to obtain the same goals. According to the authors, a group can work effectively by respecting one another, having open communication, understanding each other’s roles and providing time for regular meeting to achieve desired outcomes. Sargeant, Loney, & Murphy (2008) also shared the same view regarding the criteria of an effective group work.
Today one of the top priority leadership in healthcare organization goals is to provide stabilization and growth in transforming their organization values, beliefs, and behaviors in order to provide effective and efficient value care to patients. As healthcare organization today are shifting away from fee-for-service to value-based models to improving and mandating better care outcome and cost saving. The primary aim of strategic planning is to bring an organization into balance with the external environment and to maintain that balance over time (Harrison, 2010). The main primary areas of changes in healthcare are the quality improvement, customer satisfaction, improvement of working conditions, and diversification of the healthcare workforce.
Effective teams must be developed, not just formed. A group is not a team. Members of a group may sometimes work together, but members of a team always work together. The team need not all be in the same place to be working together. “With a group, the whole is often equal to or less than the sum of its parts; with a team, the whole is always greater” (Oakley, Brent, Felder and Elhajj, 2004). A team, as defined above, has certain characteristics that make it effective. Not all of these traits are present when a team is in the forming stage. Tea...
Finally, according to Wilkins there are more than 11 million employees working in the field of healthcare services. To retain these employees, leaders should be equipped to keep these employees motivated. A national study was done in 2003 through 2004 by Healthcare@Work showed healthcare employees have the lowest level of commitment to their job. The study indicated that healthcare managers are lacking the necessary leadership skills that keep employees committed and motivated. The study also showed that healthcare organizations should look deeper into its management culture and rethink the effectiveness of its current leaders. Healthcare@Work found that challenges in the workplace if ineffective leadership and what steps needs to be done to improve this problem (Wilkins, 2004).
Over the past few years, the health care service has seen many changes. The Affordable Care Act, for example, creating more insurance in order to care for the indigent and people in the most need of help. Health care is a very essential and necessary element of an individuals lives. The methods and preparation that is needed in order to provide adequate and efficient patient care to all is very critical and sometimes specific. The health care organization has ventured from focusing on input management to focusing and improving output management (White, 2011).
Organizations in the healthcare system face consistent change and must be ready to perceive and adapt to the new environments. As someone who desires a career in healthcare and also utilizes health services, being aware of the current issues is critical to making informed decisions. This is especially vital for situations where my decision impacts not only myself, but others in the community. In the previous section where I outlined my short-term goals, these pertained specifically to my individual growth. My long-term goals contribute to a growth mindset in the future, but also allows me to be meaningful with the organizations and clients I work with. The outcomes I want to create in my role are not for my personal growth, but elements that contribute to the foundations of an organization for it to continue thriving in the future irrespective of my presence. My desire to utilize my skills and better the lives of others through my professional career is how I believe the Health Administrative Fellowship at Novant Health will help me achieve my