By Fifer, Joseph J
Courage IN LEADERSHIP
Courage in leadership means showing that you care about patient care in your organization.
Throughout the year, I have spoken of courage in leadership in mostly external terms. That is, we need to carry the healthcare financing story to our communities and our political leaders to improve their understanding of how the system works today. Meaningful change can take place only when it’s based on a good understanding of how this flawed financing system developed. But courage in leadership is not limited to external audiences. We also need to display courage in leadership within our organizations.
Over the past few years, I have occasionally rounded in our hospital. Admittedly, I find myself getting caught up in what seems important and grind away in the C-suite, so I don’t round regularly. When I do round, however, I remind myself how important getting out is. I have observed a coronary artery bypass graft, where I stood so close I could have literally touched a beating, then still, heart. I have seen brain surgery performed on a io-year-old girl. I have witnessed cardiac catheterizations and imaging and walked through numerous nursing units. These observations are enlightening, and keep me grounded on what this job is really all about.
Recently, Shawn Ulreich, the chief nursing officer at Spectrum Health, and I spoke at the AONE conference in Washington, D.C. During our speech, Shawn discussed Spectrum Health’s financial ratios, while I spoke about our nurse staffing ratios, clinical ladder, and shared leadership. The swapping of stories was more than symbolic; it represented an honest respect for each other’s role and disciplines. The point of the talk was to encourage nurse executives to develop positive working relationships with their CFOs. The same message applies to financial managers. It is time to bridge the gap between nursing-and all of operations-and finance.
It’s hard-almost scary-to round through nursing units. I half joke when I ask Shawn or some of her nurse managers to “hold my hand” to help me be more comfortable. I am like a fish out of water in many of the clinical areas, and I need a guiding hand to learn the most as well as stay out of their way.
The benefits of this rounding, however, far outweigh my anxieties. And the staff-whether on the nursing units or in the operating room suites-take great joy in my interest in what they do. This exposure helps me put my role in perspective and helps me make better decisions. It takes courage to visit these places that seem so foreign to me, but their staffs view my presence as a sign of great leadership that shows I really do care about patient care.
Courage in leadership. Sometimes it is tackling the massively flawed payment system. Other times, it is demonstrating that you sincerely care about patient care. So grab your CNO’s hand, ask for help, and let yourself be treated to the core of what we do as providers. You won’t regret it.
Joseph J. Filer, FHFMA,CPA
Chairman, HFMA
Copyright Healthcare Financial Management Association Apr 2007
(c) 2007 Healthcare Financial Management. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.
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