Newsletter

June 13, 2022

 

2022 New York Cluster
monthly membership perk:

Sustainably Motivate and Engage Your Employees

With personnel shortages ranking No. 1 on the list of hospital CEO’s top concerns in 2021, according to ACHE’s annual survey of top issues confronting hospitals, it’s not surprising that some hospitals and health systems have seen their labor expenses rise. However, recent news reports say that paying more to attract and retain workers isn’t necessarily sustainable.


This month, we are offering healthcare leaders a free resource that offers additional strategies to reignite employee motivation and engagement. In this chapter from Reigniting Employee Engagement: A Guide to Rediscovering Purpose and Meaning in Healthcare, industry expert and ACHE author Thomas A. Atchison, EdD, discusses nonmonetary ways to recognize high performance. “The main responsibility of the healthcare leader is to unleash, guide, and direct motivation. The best way to do this is for the leader to build a strong relationship with employees based on honesty, openness, and consistency,” he writes. Read the full chapter to learn more about motivation and engagement, and check out Atchison’s podcast on these topics, too.

We hope you enjoy this Monthly Membership Perk, and we thank you for being a part of the ACHE community. 

Reducing the Preventive Colorectal Cancer Screening Backlog Through Alignment and Optimization

Preventive medicine took a backseat during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, health systems like Geisinger are facing a mounting backlog of preventive screenings, including for colorectal cancer. Geisinger undertook a multifaceted approach to close the care gap on colorectal cancer screening, the centerpiece of which was implementing a stool-based option, known as mt-sDNA, for eligible patients.

 

Geisinger took this novel approach from idea to success. A key to success was stakeholder alignment across departments, particularly from gastroenterology, which required using data to reveal the backlog was unwavering and continuing to grow. Another critical component was integrating health information technology along the colorectal cancer-screening journey.

Following are some health information technology-related best practices that enabled Geisinger staff to understand their roles in the colorectal cancer-screening process and improve patient outreach:

  • Standardized scripting and communication tools to ensure simple and routine screening conversations and shared decision-making with patients.
  • A best practice alert to quickly identify average-risk patients 45 and older for noninvasive screening.
  • Best practice alerts for uncompleted mt-sDNA tests and declined screenings.
  • A provider dashboard with monthly updates.
  • Best practice alert tracking by location and care team member.
  • An after-visit summary with how-to videos, instructions and patient education.

Through cross-team collaboration and health information technology optimizations, Geisinger has started to close the colorectal cancer-screening care gap, achieving a 70% screening rate and plans to build on this momentum.

For more information on colorectal cancer, mt-sDNA and screening strategies, visit ache.org/about-ache/corporate-partners/sites/exact-sciences.

Exact Sciences, an ACHE Premier Corporate Partner, provided the content above.

2023 Congress on Healthcare Leadership Details Announced

Following the success of this year's Congress on Healthcare Leadership, the 2023 Congress will be held March 20–23 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago—a week earlier and at a different location than previously announced. ACHE will share more updates about next year’s Congress as planning for it continues.

 

Future-Proofing the Healthcare Workforce

Though the COVID-19 pandemic forced every industry to take a step back to reevaluate its workforce and work models, the healthcare field in particular was clobbered by the public health crisis. With a workforce already beset with shortages and burnout before the pandemic, these issues have only amplified since 2020.

 

Despite these challenges, there are strategies leaders can implement to future-proof their organizations against the reduced staffing levels and burnout experienced during the pandemic, such as upskilling and reskilling the workforce for new in-demand skills, according to experts we spoke to for a feature article in the May/June Healthcare Executive.

Read the full story on HealthcareExecutive.org to learn about strategies some hospitals and health systems are employing to retain their workforce and prepare for the future.

Leading in Challenging Times

“Pride Month was established to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Riots, a major catalyst for the gay rights movement in the United States and around the globe,” writes James R. Allard, DNP, RN, FACHE, vice president, nursing/CNO, Medical City Children’s/Medical City Women’s Hospitals, Dallas, in a recent ACHE Blog post. “These times were particularly difficult for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans. Fast forward to 2022 and while there has been much needed change, there is still a need for continued progress. As an LGBTQ healthcare leader who grew up in the Northeast, and who is now settled in Texas, I am able to show up and work to make a difference,” Allard continues.

 

At ACHE, we embrace diversity and inclusion in the healthcare management field. From specialized member communities, forums and networks to career resources, executive programs and policy statements, ACHE makes supporting diversity and inclusion integral to our mission and daily work.

In recognition of LGBTQ Pride Month, we are highlighting this recent ACHE Blog post written by Allard, who also serves as chair of ACHE’s LGBTQ Healthcare Leaders Community Committee. Visit ache.org/Blog to read the full blog post, and check out the LGBTQ Healthcare Leaders Community to learn more about the exclusive benefits it offers to ACHE members interested in professional development and advocacy on distinct issues of LGBTQ healthcare executives.  

Deadline Approaching for 2022 IHF Award Submissions

Submissions for the International Hospital Federation’s 2022 Awards are due June 30.


2022 IHF Awards

IHF invites hospitals and other healthcare organizations around the world to submit entries that showcase outstanding projects, programs and services for the following award categories:

  • Dr. Kwang Tae Kim Grand Hospital Award.
  • Seddiqi Holding Excellence Award for Corporate Social Responsibility.
  • Ashikaga-Nikken Excellence Award for Green Hospitals.
  • Sultanate of Oman Excellence Award for Health Services During Crisis.
  • American Hospital Association Excellence Award for Healthcare Workers’ Wellbeing.
  • American College of Healthcare Executives Excellence Award for Leadership and Management.
  • Austco Excellence Award for Quality and Patient Safety.

The IHF Awards will be presented to winners during a special ceremony at the 45th World Hospital Congress, Nov. 9–11, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Visit the IHF Awards webpage to learn more about submission eligibility and rules, guidelines and judging criteria. For inquiries, please email awards@ihf-fih.org.

Early Bird Rates

Those interested in attending the World Hospital Congress can now register with early bird rates until Aug. 31. Learn more and register here.