Ready, Get Set…Change! Responding to Change with Agility!
“Everything is in a state of flux, including the status quo.” -Robert Byrne
Wow! What a year 2014 was! If there is one thing that seems to characterize all healthcare organizations today, it is change! This past year has brought about many changes and challenges for leaders in our industry including CMS regulatory changes, OIG initiatives, data and quality outcomes, value based purchasing, IMPACT legislation, CMS FY 2015 budget initiatives and more! Change can be exciting and stressful. It requires leaders to inspire their team, be flexible, adapt quickly, understand the impact of change on the overall organization and stay upbeat and positive. This keeps your team on-side with your vision for the future.
Here are some leadership tips to be prepared and stay P.O.S.I.T.I.V.E. © for change in 2015!
Preparation – Ensure that you and your leadership team understand the regulatory updates, CMS initiatives, OIG Work plan initiatives, reimbursement changes and ICD 10 transition, as well as value-based purchasing initiatives including hospital readmission measures for 2015. It is time to access your resources and arm your team with knowledge as you finalize your strategic goals for 2015!
Operational Readiness Assessment – As leaders, we need to ensure individuals at each level have the appropriate capabilities and the right organizational structures in place. An organizational readiness assessment will evaluate the organizational structure, processes, capabilities, abilities and staff knowledge as it relates to the 2015 and beyond initiatives shaping the future for post-acute care. With the right assessment tool, leaders will develop an understanding of the organization strengths and weaknesses and how to prepare for change.
Services – Review your current service delivery offerings upon completion of the readiness assessment. Do you provide the same services as every other post-acute care provider? Are their opportunities to partner with other providers to offer unique or specialized services/programs? The redesign of healthcare across the nation is driving leaders to review their current services and identify specialties based upon your organizations abilities, capabilities, market area and technology!
Internal Systems – Create a plan to review all internal processes/systems including department specific policies and procedures! 2014 has brought about a significant amount of clinical, reimbursement and legislative changes that directly affect your clinical and operational processes. Make sure that those updates include evidenced based references, as this is now part of the revised SOM and surveyor probes! Create a training plan around those revisions to ensure staff at all levels understands their respective roles and responsibilities!
Team Composition – Align and engage individuals in your organization. Make sure you have the right people in the right roles to meet the expectations of the new healthcare environment. Creating SMEs is critical to success in the new healthcare environment. Provide training, skills development programs and action learning activities to gear your team to exceed expectations.
Increase Clinical Competencies – This is an expectation! Reform is driving acuity into lower cost settings. Make sure your clinical team is prepared and can prove that clinical competencies are assessed across the organization, with individual skill development plans in place!
Validation and Benchmark Data – The new era of leadership in healthcare is data driven decisions. Create a data agenda for your organization. Leaders need to take their data, analyze it, understand how it reflects what your organization “looks like” and understand how it compares to your competition/partners. Then create improvement plans for successful outcomes.
Excellent Outcomes – Monitor outcomes through QAPI! Completing the above tactics will prepare and position your organization for 2015.
As I work with organizations across the nation, I remind them that a post-acute care leader’s mantra needs to be, “Evaluate, reposition, partner and implement”. New opportunities, new service lines, strategic partnerships and new business initiatives are exciting moments that signal change, innovation and disruption. Staying P.O.S.I.T.I.V.E. © throughout this process will empower your team and improve overall performance, positioning your organization for the future!
Lisa Thompson
Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer
Pathway Health