Great management is what supports some of our most successful healthcare organizations.
It can have a huge impact on how a hospital or clinic performs in terms of patient outcomes, efficiency, and employee satisfaction. When medical settings are underpinned by good leadership, health professionals have the resources they need and the motivation to provide excellent quality care. This leads to staff being more productive and diverse teams from various departments working well together. In addition, challenges such as managing change and adopting new technologies are overcome easily.
What makes an effective leader?
The best leaders have respect for others, personal integrity and courage. They are fast learners who can communicate well with all types of people and have a willingness to delegate. These qualities and more can drive productivity, shape a positive workplace culture and ensure patient outcomes are prioritized.
Leadership skills in healthcare settings can be improved with time and experience, but the training a person receives can make all the difference. Working RNs who are ready for a senior academic role can pursue an online Master in Nursing education program at Cleveland State University. Here they will gain the competencies needed to teach in a busy medical faculty. Upon graduating, they will coach generations of young nurses while refining their own leadership abilities.
Why is healthcare leadership unique?
In any organization, leaders and managers shape operational practices, staff performance, and quality controls. In healthcare, this takes on a new significance because these factors influence how well patients are cared for. In fact, leaders can make the difference between life and death, so what aspects of good leadership are the most important in a medical setting?
Professional development is encouraged and enabled
In a medical environment, the quality of patient care relies on the continuous development of skills in the workforce. This means leaders strive to maintain teams of highly trained employees, who continually update their competencies and certifications. As a result, they are ready to adopt the latest medical innovations and diagnose unusual cases with confidence. Along with improving the general standard of care, training opportunities make healthcare workers feel valued and more loyal to their organization. Leaders who are willing to invest in their physicians and nurses can motivate people to find new, more advanced working practices which ultimately benefit patients.
Appropriate behaviors are nurtured
Leaders ensure that each member of every team understands what is expected of them. They see to it that employees are given appropriate feedback, which includes elements of appreciation, regularly. When things go wrong, as they inevitably will from time to time, they react by considering what can be learned rather than apportioning blame.
However, when instances of poor performance or unacceptable behavior persist, they will ensure the issue is addressed decisively. They engage in respectful interactions with patients and co-workers, demonstrating empathy and expertise while sticking to set protocols. Leaders who model professional, compassionate, and appropriate behavior can inspire their staff and make the facility a better place to be.
Risks to the facility are managed in advance
Clinical environments face several different types of risk, and these include the procedures which govern medical care and the building’s administrative system. Each area of risk must be effectively managed by healthcare leaders, from monitoring performance to assessing potential threats, mitigating the impact of these threats, and finding ways to prevent them altogether. This is a considerable task which previously focused solely on patient safety in areas such as negligence, misidentification and infection control.
In the modern medical system, this landscape has evolved and as a result, leaders have a broader focus. Now, top-tier leaders will take the entire building and its departments into consideration. They will assess the financial risk involved with buying new equipment, as well as look at how new regulatory standards and political change could impact their area of the healthcare system.
The effects of good leadership in healthcare
While building on their own skills, a good leader within healthcare has many effects on the hospital and the caring environment it strives to be. These include:
Teams become more consistent and organized
Good healthcare leaders aspire to get people involved and participating in the future of their facility. They hold regular meetings and remain accessible when clinicians need to talk. In all areas of the organization, they are committed to listening and then acting on what their staff have told them. In addition, when people are keen to test out new ideas, they allow them to do so in safe, supportive conditions.
Although a hierarchical structure is essential in healthcare settings, employees are all pulling in the same direction. They are taking care of patient needs and trying to secure the best outcomes for everyone on the ward. By being available and responsive, leaders foster this sense of purpose and team identity. They ensure employees understand the importance of their role in their department and the overall facility.
Patients can rely on a high standard of care
All great healthcare leaders, whether they are working in a big city hospital or a rural clinic, will emphasize the overarching importance of patient care. In addition to delivering the best possible outcomes, they will prioritize compassion, patient satisfaction, and trust. By collating surveys, comments, and complaints, they can react to patients’ views and make any necessary changes. Occasionally, front-line workers will find they cannot devote sufficient time to this area of patient care, so leaders can step in to have a genuine conversation with the people who rely on their facility. By improving medical outcomes, leaders can enhance the facility’s services, reduce readmissions and boost patient retention.
Effective leadership can transform the provision of healthcare
Healthcare leadership is a complex specialty, one in which practitioners are expected to continually improve their performance and that of their staff. This means there are daily challenges to contend with, but the rewards can make it all worthwhile. Their efforts are key to the delivery of clinical excellence and a workforce with high levels of job satisfaction. By focusing on the development of their employees and excellent patient care, leaders can motivate healthcare professionals and inspire them to greatness.
