By Kim Bassett

Middle managers are often the unsung heroes within every organization. With a well-oiled machine, each piece plays a vital role and the same can be said for an organization. Each person has their part to play. What makes middle managers unique is their ability to communicate with both upper management and their staff. Middle managers are the bridge between the two groups. That’s one reason why executive management would be wise to help middle managers grow, learn and become confident as leaders.

Ways to create a growth environment for your middle managers:

Give them the freedom to make decisions. This not only shows you trust them as professionals, but allows them to take ownership and pride in what they do.  This doesn’t mean you don’t discuss the decisions they are making, but rather sit back and let them lead the discussion, asking intentional questions that leads them to a thoughtful decision. Over time, they will go through this process without prompting. [Read more…]

Here are five things you can do as a middle manager to position yourself for upward mobility

By Kim Bassett

Middle managers serve a vital role within any organization. You are the bridge between top administration and the support services staff. The responsibility of implementing strategic plans falls on your shoulders — right down to the smallest of details. You enjoy the challenges of working to keep your employees and customers happy and satisfied.  You may love your job, happy to carry out these directives, seeing the results firsthand, never desiring to cross that bridge and move into upper management. But some may want more.

Do you find yourself thinking you have what it takes to accept more responsibility?  Do you want to continue your upward climb within the organization? There are not as many top-level positions available as people desiring to have them.  What can you do to make sure those leaders making the decisions about promotions recognize your talents and abilities?  [Read more…]

By Kim Bassett

I have been a nurse for over 30 years.  I started my career knowing nursing was the only job for me.  I loved being at the bedside working with patients and families.  Helping others was my passion.  My career turned from direct patient care 20 years ago when I became a Chief Nurse and then, again, 13 years ago when I became a hospital CEO. I am often asked how and why I made the change from nursing to hospital leadership.  I always start by saying the same thing, “I rely more on my nursing background when managing my hospital than my MBA.” 

Merging clinical background with management know-how has definitely improved my decision-making abilities and thus effectively improving patient care.  Although you don’t have to be a nurse or have clinical background to be a hospital executive, I certainly encourage healthcare providers to consider healthcare administration.     [Read more…]

By Kim Bassett

As leaders in the industry, it is our responsibility to get people interested in pursuing a career in healthcare.  Mentorship is one way to encourage our youth towards a health career and can be used to encourage adults looking for a change in careers. 

You can be a mentor through formal programs, or more informally through casual interactions. Our work influences the lives of people we come in contact with every day.  Use this same influence to encourage new talent to pursue a health career.

Below are talking points you can use when persuading someone to consider a career in healthcare. [Read more…]

By Nick Hernandez

There are plenty of healthcare professional organizations, but are the yearly dues worth it to join? As budgets get squeezed, many physicians and practice managers have been cutting back on the number of professional associations they belong to. Although there is often a lack of perceived benefit, membership in professional associations yields a number of benefits.  Taking an active role in professional associations can benefit physicians through networking opportunities, policy alerts, and continuing education.

1. Education

Perhaps the most important benefit is education. (A plea here to physicians is to remember this applies to your practice managers. If you want a successful practice, run by a talented practice manager, you must be willing to support his or her professional continuing education.) Most associations provide an enormous amount of access to resource information such as: case studies, articles, white papers and books written by experts in your field or area of interest. Providers and managers can keep up with the newest developments (clinical and operational) through their association membership benefits, including conferences. Take advantage of all the information your associations provide and remember that most of it is online and free.

2. Networking

Another important benefit is networking. There is no better way to connect with peers and industry experts than through professional association membership. There is often a variety of possible venues to network at (e.g. listservs, membership connections and groups, national conferences, regional seminars, etc.), providing you are willing to get engaged with other members. Networking with professionals outside your place of employment can give you a broader perspective on the market and healthcare in general.  [Read more…]