OVERVIEW
Covering gaps in employed provider network leadership positions is more difficult than ever. Health systems have cut administrative management positions across the board to bolster diminishing operating margins, and remaining leaders are already stretched thin by their primary responsibilities. Providing additional coverage for vacant leadership position responsibilities or dedicating additional time to significant project improvement initiatives has become even more untenable.
CHALLENGES
Employed network administrative leadership has historically been under resourced. This tendency is even more noteworthy with the recent cuts to administrative leadership that many health systems have undertaken to survive during tough economic times. Vacant leadership positions, whether vacated voluntarily or involuntarily, create a significant strain for employed network management, providers, and staff. The strain is compounded by the considerable lag involved in recruiting qualified individuals to fill vacant positions. The historic coverage methodology of “sucking it up” and “toughing it out” has become virtually impossible to sustain without diminished effectiveness and incredible hardship for all involved.
Even when “fully staffed,” finding time to dedicate to major performance improvement initiatives can be difficult for leaders as many are already stretched to their limits daily. As a result, design and implementation of these initiatives often suffer inordinate delays and face suboptimal outcomes.
If these scenarios sound all too familiar, interim leadership support might offer a solution.
APPROACH
HSG’s Insights to Action Methodology takes clients through six key steps to identify problems and create long-lasting solutions.
DATA ACQUISITION
What data do we aggregate to solve the problem?
First, we identify necessary funding to pursue interim leadership support. This may seem daunting, but it must be weighed against the impact on existing leadership’s well-being and retention, and overall employed network function.
The current budget often provides parameters for covering a vacant position while the anticipated or calculated return on investment (ROI) for an improvement project, such as creating an effective coding and documentation audit and education program or revamping the professional services revenue cycle processes, provides the margin for pursuing special project support.
DATA TRANSFORMATION
How do we extract information from the data?
HSG works with its partners to determine how we can assist within the available funding parameters:
- By customizing available hours, or
- By utilizing a combination of onsite and remote assistance
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
What expertise do we apply to find a solution?
Once a plan is determined, HSG utilizes seasoned, in-house experts to supply interim leadership support. Potential candidates possess the requisite skill sets and experience to fill your temporary needs.
In addition, a dedicated HSG project team remains available to support and supplement the interim leader to maximize success.
PACKAGING
How do we structure and apply our expertise?
HSG works with clients to ensure that the interim leader has the desired skill set, is a good cultural fit, and remains within your budgeted funding.
DELIVERY
When and how do you receive solutions?
We deliver resumes/CVs for clients’ review and selection, offer interviews, and work out a specific plan to meets our clients’ unique organizational needs.
IMPLEMENTATION & MONITORING
How do we provide ongoing support to your organization?
HSG leadership remains involved by conducting regularly scheduled and ad hoc interactions with the interim leader, and separately with the interim’s reporting senior(s) to ensure that organizational needs are being adequately satisfied.
Arrangements can also include additional data or other administrative support that the interim/organization requires during the engagement.
RELATED CONCERNS
Interim leadership engagements may shed light on simultaneous issues within the employed network or health system. Items such as organizational structure effectiveness, dedicated support adequacy, or other employed network gaps may become evident during the engagement. HSG stands ready to discuss, address, and/or support items that may arise or be identified.
Think your network could benefit from an Interim leader? Reach out to our subject matter expert, Dr. Terry McWilliams to better understand how HSG can help your team fill the void.
