It is very important to recognize a leader in healthcare, such as managers, doctors, as well as the first line of people in communication with the patient: the administration and the nurses. Through training and coaching for leaders in healthcare, patient satisfaction, economic development of hospitals and well-being of employees are increased.
PLX Academy · Personal Experience · 9 February 2022
WHAT DEFINES TRUE LEADERS IN HEALTHCARE?
Businesses cannot grow without developing the leadership skills of their employees. This is especially true in hospitals, where different processes take place, many people circulate and need help and some resources need to be managed efficiently to achieve results. The desired outcome is always high quality and safe healthcare which increases patient satisfaction and encourages the economic development of hospitals.
The Joint Commission from the USA reports that the traditional concept of leadership among health managers and doctors is very important to be extended to others such as administration staff and nurses. They are the first contact with the patient and the first promoters of the work of the hospital. With leadership programs, they participate in creating an organizational culture and work environment, in which they feel motivated, empowered, and supported.
→ Leaders have a vision for the future
What makes a medical practice unique is the direction that practice leaders set for it. Leaders, success depends on the ability to understand and deliver what patients and their families, the marketplace, and superiors expect. But that is not enough. Understanding the necessary capacity and capability of colleagues and the suppliers of critical goods and services are key to visionary leadership. When leaders have a clear vision of the direction in which they want to develop things, other employees are more motivated to follow them to the desired destination. But it is equally important that they know how to explain to others how they can best get involved in achieving organizational goals.
→ Leaders foster innovation and change
Increased costs of operating hospitals, declining health benefits paid by the state, labor shortages, new technologies, and an increase in the number of older people are often the drivers of changes in healthcare. To accept change, it is very important to develop leadership in hospital staff to be a true leaders in healthcare. To achieve this leadership is needed in dealing with conflicting human emotions as well as connecting and balancing all aspects of work. Healthcare leaders need to know, that change needs to be discussed openly. People, do not want information vacuums during operation. Then, gossip usually fills the void and rumors are much more negative than any change.
→ Leaders build effective teams
The Agency for Research and Quality of Health Care suggests the concept of leadership to include all hospital staff. Particular attention should be paid to administration and nurses as they have their first contact with the patient. Team building includes a common mission and vision of all stakeholders and is crucial to achieving organizational goals.
Training and coaching for leadership development should include team building which recognizes the skills and abilities of all team members. Leadership in team-building implies trust among members, strong expertise in a given situation, a true way of expressing opinions, a high degree of emotional intelligence in making complicated decisions, and courage in implementing them.
→ Leaders create a positive work atmosphere
Developing leadership, means strengthening the ability of individuals, to know how to develop organizational culture. It should be a platform in which the common value will be high quality and safe care for patients, responsible use of resources, social responsibility of the hospital, and ethical behavior of its staff. According to this platform, healthcare leaders need to know how to behave, express, expect and set goals. They should be a good example to others who usually model their views according to the leaders. A leader who shows honesty and integrity in what they do will be a good example to others. A leader who admits a mistake and takes responsibility for a particular situation is also a good example.
All these aspects, as well as many others, should be covered in leadership training and exercises which will be conducted in hospitals.