Jacob Kupietzky is President of HealthCare Transformation, a company dedicated to providing hospitals with experienced interim executives.
Given the dynamic nature of the healthcare industry, it is becoming increasingly important for healthcare professionals to focus on creating careers that are built on transitions. Our industry will always be a place of change—new treatments, procedures and technologies are constantly emerging, which often create unexpected transitions.
Because of this, I have been immersed in change management and transformation throughout my career and have dedicated myself to helping organizations achieve their goals by first understanding their needs.
I have seen firsthand the impact thoughtful planning and effective execution can have and how they can make the difference between ineffective and successful change management initiatives. How small, seemingly inconsequential moments in the process can end up being the mechanisms that drive growth, improve productivity and develop a culture of excellence.
By embracing change management and transitions, I’m confident individuals, and even entire organizations, can transform into vibrant, forward-thinking leaders in their fields.
Develop strong interpersonal skills.
Navigating the complex system of hospital operations and regulations makes it paramount to invest the time, effort and energy in your interpersonal skills. When it comes to job transitions, I’ve learned quite a few valuable lessons over the course of my career that I still use today.
First, I realized that change is hard—not just for the person leaving, but also for those they are leaving behind. But it doesn’t have to be a negative experience, so be conscious of how your words and actions are impacting others during transitions. You can make the transition easier for everyone involved by showing understanding and support in uncertain times. Here are some practices I encourage my leaders and mentees to use when going through changes.
1. Lead with empathy. Acknowledge the emotions associated with changes every step of the way. Everyone involved in a transition is likely feeling some level of anxiety or fear, and your understanding will go a long way in helping them through it.
2. Focus on the future. Help those affected to find hope and excitement around what comes next. Highlight the opportunities that are available to them with this change, and create an environment where they can feel supported and encouraged.
3. Celebrate the successes. Don’t forget to recognize the accomplishments of those who are leaving, no matter how big or small. Celebrating their achievements will help them move forward with more confidence and optimism.
4. Overcommunicate. A thorough understanding of what needs to be done, who needs to do it and by when are essential for a successful transition. I’ve found this often starts with yourself as an individual—you know your role the best, and you know what makes it flow and what creates clogs in your systems.
Take the time to make sure you’ve either updated or created policies, procedures, work instructions and forms for the incoming person. This may sound like overkill, but it not only helps you feel good about transitioning out of a role, it creates a sense of community too—you may not meet the new hire, but you’ve given them some guideposts to be successful and you never know where that might lead.
From a management and leadership standpoint, make this part of your culture and every employee’s day-to-day role. Build in time and set the tone that the actual process is just as important as the deliverables because this makes onboarding new hires much more successful, efficient and streamlined in the future.
Get comfortable with new technologies.
The healthcare industry has evolved rapidly over the past few decades, and so, too, have technological advancements in medical practice. For instance, the use of electronic health records (EHRs) and telemedicine help to simplify data collection and analysis, reducing time spent on administrative tasks. This technology can also help provide more accurate diagnoses and treatments when compared to paper-based records, as well as improved communication between providers and patients.
Transitioning to an EHR system (or any new technology!) can be daunting. Regardless of the type of healthcare facility, the implementation process involves a significant amount of planning and coordination to ensure that all expectations are met, and no disruption is caused to the existing operations.
And while there will always be some unique challenges, there are also common issues I’ve found most organizations face: staff resistance, data conversion, lack of training and support, limited resources, cost and budgeting constraints, timeframe restraints, software compatibility issues, system integration difficulties, security and privacy concerns and regulatory compliance requirements.
To overcome these obstacles, it’s been my experience that hiring a dedicated change champion is necessary. This individual (or consultant) should be knowledgeable of the overall EHR implementation process (or whichever new technology you’re adopting) and have a clear understanding of the organization’s goals and objectives.
They must also possess strong interpersonal skills as they will need to spearhead training, coordinate system updates, guide staff through any changes in workflow processes and act as an advocate for end-user feedback. They should be responsible for creating timelines, communicating updates, delivering training materials and troubleshooting any issues that arise throughout the course of the project. It’s really a vital position to bring on board when truly considering any major investment in technology.
Think big picture.
Above all else, remember to keep the big picture in mind. I know it may be tempting to get caught up in the day-to-day details of your job, but always take a step back and consider how your work contributes to your overall career goals. By taking a long-term view of how your career will evolve over time, you can ensure that your skills and knowledge remain relevant in an ever-changing industry.
And at the end of the day, no matter what your current position or level of experience, the right mindset is critical to build a successful career. Change is inevitable, but with the right mindset, you can create an exciting and rewarding career path for yourself and those around you.
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