Health care leadership is a broad term that encompasses many careers. These leaders take on discerning management responsibilities of health care organizations like hospitals, outpatient facilities, nursing homes and more. Regina Temple points out that healthcare leaders are not responsible for administering medical care to patients, rather they serve the patients and the organization by guiding major business decisions. They make sure that the healthcare facility runs in an efficient manner and is well-staffed. Healthcare leaders also set strong organizational objectives and goals to make sure that their facility matches the growth of the health services industry.
Regina Temple briefly talks about the role of healthcare leaders
Healthcare organizations can be complex and large, and hence making sure that they function in a smooth manner is not easy. These organizations comprise of large staffs, may have multi-million-dollar budgets, and are focused on sustaining the well-being of a community by providing life-saving and routine medical services. For healthcare facilities to operate in a smooth manner and meet ever-evolving public health needs, strong leadership is extremely critical. There, however, there is not a singular correct way to lead in health care. Rather, one can find several demonstrations of impactful healthcare leadership. After all, the medical field has a diverse workforce, and the ones filling leadership positions often come from varied backgrounds, hold diverse job titles with wide-ranging responsibilities, and are likely to have distinct leadership styles.
All healthcare facilities, no matter whether it is a multi-speciality hospital, a birthing centre, or even a mental health and addiction treatment facility, it would need a strong leader to navigate challenges. A good leader can set the facility and its staff on a path to success. Healthcare leaders can be classified under several titles, including:
- Hospital CEO
- Clinical Director
- Administration Supervisor
- Health Information Manager
- Medical Services Manager
No matter the variation in job titles and responsibilities, healthcare leaders have the unique task of blending business savviness with their expertise in health service. By making sure of both types of knowledge in their management style and decision-making, healthcare leaders can effectively position their organization for success and expansion. Their knowledge and expertise also help healthcare organizations stay up-to-date with ongoing technological advances and regulatory changes in the medical field.
Even though the needs of a healthcare organization would ultimately dictate specific job responsibilities its leaders, they are largely accountable for essential and higher-level business management duties. As Regina Temple mentions, healthcare leaders have to make sure that their facility or organization complies with current laws and regulations; while also implementing best practices so patients receive quality care. They are the ones to strategize new initiatives for meeting organizational objectives, and manage the finances and budgets of the facility as well. Many healthcare leaders also have to manage human resources, including hiring and scheduling, and maintaining accurate personnel. They try their best to facilitate smooth internal and external communications, which may even involve nurturing relationships with other organizations, healthcare providers and the community at large.
Healthcare facilities would not be able to efficiently function without attention to key business logistics. Healthcare leaders are the ones to work tirelessly to make sure that the operations of these facilities are up and running so patients can receive the quality care they need.