In a recent H&HN article, Paul Hoffman suggests Ten Questions for Hospital Leaders to see if they are addressing the right issues. I'd like to take this a step further, because I believe evaluating hospital leadership goes farther.
First, the question should be asked if the governing body is also aware of these questions and their answers. An effective leader not only has great answers or examples to these questions, but has also educated his/her governing body members and they have an awareness of these issues.
And, second, employees and the medical staff should also have knowledge of the answers to these questions. It is one thing to have a policy that addresses inappropriate behavior and completely another to have a surgical nurse be able to explain the policy.
These questions are also a good self-assessment by leaders and some would be good interview questions for those organizations making a change. My favorite of the 10 questions:
What steps are being taken to: (a) maximize the recruitment and retention of the best qualified staff (b) minimize compassion fatigue, (c) reduce the incidence of professional tension and (d) ensure high staff morale?
My second favorite question, because it goes to the heart of planning for the IT investments that will be made over the next few years is:
What objective criteria have been developed to assess program proposals, acquisition of new technology and similar investments? How have audits of previous investments improved the assessment process?
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