Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 35

Not discharging a poorly performing employee after
counseling and training is unfair to our patients, their
co-workers and even the employee.

Reprinted with permission by Modern Healthcare and Roger Schillerstrom.

t E l l t h E t ru t h A s yo u s E E i t
While you should try to be liked by the people you
serve, it is equally important to tell the truth as you see
it and then act on it. Let me highlight the term “as you
see it.” Often in my career I would see a situation one
way, and others would see it a different way. Neither of
us was totally right nor wrong, which underscores the
importance of always listening to and trying to understand others’ perspectives.
Another leadership edict I live by is that we should not
accept for others what we would not accept for ourselves. How many of us have or have had supervisors in
our organizations whom we would not want to be supervised by? How many clinicians are there in your organization from whom you would not want to receive care? I
am not referring to individuals who are not the absolute
best in the organization, but, rather, those whose performance falls below an acceptable level.
While no one likes to do performance reviews, that is a
way to address these poor performers. Too often we
highlight individuals’ strengths and ignore their weaknesses. I know I have done that when I have given performance reviews.
Sugarcoated performance reviews, however, often lead
to a situation in which the employee must be discharged. And then how often do we delay doing that?

These challenges, of course, are magnified at the organizational level. Organizational decisions and their ramifications are a far greater challenge. I remember vividly
when ACHE’s Board of Governors and I felt it was necessary to streamline ACHE’s credentialing process. Even
under the very capable leadership of our Chairman at
the time, William Schoenhard, FACHE, the former
deputy under secretary for health for operations and
management, Department of Veterans Affairs, a vocal
minority disagreed with the decision. They were the catalyst for the Modern Healthcare cartoon, at left.
Of course, this cartoon is tame compared to the ones
that will be drawn of you when you close and merge
facilities. I hope you will remain steadfast in doing what
you think is right.
You face similar challenges within your organizations.
For example, why are we still hiring smokers in healthcare? In my opinion, only nonsmokers should be hired
in the future. And existing smokers should be given a
reasonable amount of time—with support—to quit
smoking or face termination. While a more difficult
problem, it is not unreasonable to expect overweight
employees to reduce their BMIs if they are too high.
Again, we should provide support and assistance.
I also wonder why we are retaining clinicians who will
not get flu shots or wear masks when they are with
patients. Do we really question the efficacy of the flu
vaccine? Do we not believe we are putting patients at
risk by exposing them to individuals who may have an
easily preventable disease? Healthcare organizations
need to model healthy practices.
These types of challenges become even greater at the
community level. Society today must demand that
Healthcare Executive
NOV/DEC 2013

35



Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013

Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013
Contents
ACHE Online
Take Note
Perspectives
Managing Your Career in Transformative Times
Generation Now: The New Era of Leadership
Aspirations of a Servant Leader
Professional Pointers
Healthcare Management Ethics
Satisfying Your Customers
Community Health Innovations
Public Policy Update
Careers
Governance Insights
Improving Patient Care
CEO Focus
Executive News
On the Move
Member Accolades
Chapter News
Professional Development Calendar
2013 Editorial Index
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - Cover2
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - Contents
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 2
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 3
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - ACHE Online
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 5
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - Take Note
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 7
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - Perspectives
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 9
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - Managing Your Career in Transformative Times
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 11
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 12
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 13
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 14
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 15
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 16
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 17
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 18
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 19
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - Generation Now: The New Era of Leadership
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 21
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 22
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 23
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 24
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 25
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 26
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 27
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 28
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 29
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - Aspirations of a Servant Leader
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 31
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 32
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 33
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 34
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 35
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 36
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 37
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 38
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 39
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - Professional Pointers
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 41
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - Healthcare Management Ethics
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 43
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 44
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 45
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 46
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 47
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - Satisfying Your Customers
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 49
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 50
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 51
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - Community Health Innovations
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 53
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 54
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 55
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - Public Policy Update
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 57
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 58
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 59
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 60
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 61
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - Careers
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 63
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 64
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 65
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - Governance Insights
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 67
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 68
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 69
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - Improving Patient Care
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 71
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 72
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 73
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 74
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 75
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - CEO Focus
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 77
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 78
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 79
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - Executive News
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 81
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 82
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 83
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - On the Move
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 85
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 86
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 87
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - Member Accolades
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 89
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - Chapter News
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 91
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - Professional Development Calendar
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 93
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 2013 Editorial Index
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 95
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - 96
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - Cover3
Healthcare Executive - November/December 2013 - Cover4
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