By Pamela J. Gallagher - In recent decades, many companies have adopted the maxim, “Do what you do best, and outsource the rest.” From the ability to focus on the core of their business to gaining outside expertise to boosting their quality of service, there are many reasons outsourcing may be appealing to an organization.

By Clay Holderman

Timing is everything. Just as we formally launch our Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) efforts, a federal order makes it a political hot potato. The memo casts all unconscious bias training or racial sensitivity training as “anti-white” and “un-American”. So what to do? Delay implementation until the political context dies down? Or continue forward and begin the self-examination, the data collection, and the conversations that will propel us forward?

By John N. Kastanis, FACHE, MBA

As we continue to navigate the unknowns of the current pandemic, it appears we are still a long way off from living in a true post-COVID-19 era. Only when we are equipped with the knowledge and resources needed to deal with new types of SARS viruses, including effective new treatments and vaccines, will we truly move forward. But until that time, improved health outcomes can still be realized through effective population health strategies, providing adequate financial resources are available.

By Dr. Seleem R. Choudhury

Population Health invokes an image of helping to improve the health of all within the community however even in recent years a large portion of the community are being further marginalized and failed on a daily basis and this systematic failure is leading to premature deaths and poor health outcomes. Black Lives Matter protests have emphasized the racial disparity evident within the United States and the western world. It’s an opportunity to look beyond the issues of law enforcement and examine one aspect of inequality and examine how Black, Indigenous and People of Colour are impacted by being treated differently within healthcare.

By Pamela J. Gallagher

Hiring an interim executive has long been thought of as a band-aid solution on the heels of an unexpected resignation or a way to give a potential new leader a trial run before committing. But with more businesses taking on flexible staffing approaches combined with the ups and downs of the economy over the past 15 years, companies have realized the financial and strategic benefits of engaging an interim executive rather than seeking to make an immediate permanent hire.

By Deb Mohesky

We are attracted to narratives of the “defining moment” that comes through the pieces clicking perfectly into place, a heartfelt conversation with a friend, or a chance encounter with a stranger that gives one the feeling of knowing at a specific point in time what they are meant to do in life. This “defining moment” is referred to often in motivational speeches and self-help books, yet it is elusive for so many. Could it be that we are looking in the wrong place?

By Dr. Seleem R. Choudhury, DNP

Most organizations would agree that the greatest asset of any organization is its people. Yet, when it comes to employee engagement—the level of “enthusiasm and connection employees have with their organization” (Croswell, 2020)—leadership often considers employees as a whole rather than individual parts with their own goals and strengths.

By Renee Jensen

The topic of career transition is something that strong, successful leaders rarely talk about, despite the fact that it is something that almost every professional will experience in some way, at some point in their career.

Transition isn’t something you are going to learn about in business school, and chances are you won’t even know you need to know about it until you find yourself in a situation where your career or life are undergoing a major change.

By Rodney D. Reider

You know, a true joy as a leader is when everything goes just right. You receive feedback from the Board supporting your proposal. A new cardiac surgeon signed the contract, the two-year long vacancy is over, the physician will start in September and the heart team is excited. The Press Ganey scores just received show an incredibly positive trend worthy of festivity, and you celebrate, gladly, throughout the facility!

By Don Stookey, CHESP, Kestgo Principal

It began with a scratchy throat.

I had just come back from a weekend hike through the mountains, and the hillside’s flowers were in full bloom. It must have been allergies, I thought. On Monday, I went to work at the hospital in Washington State where I have been serving as a health care leader the past several months.

By Michael J. Zappa, MD, FACEP

Think of a person you admire, look up to, or perhaps are even a little jealous of, someone you would consider successful, generally positive, or a good role model. That individual does what they do with apparent ease and confidence, from just walking down the hall, interacting with others, or being the center of attention.

By Clay Holderman

I received the attached letter from a front-line nurse and preceptor named Erin. She sent it to leadership to encourage us and give her perspective on being on the front-line. “I am a part of history and my attitude can make or break the atmosphere for my team around me.” What incredible perspective.

By Pamela J. Gallagher

In 2019, emergency departments (ED) across the U.S. saw an average of 2.1 million patients per week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Over the past several decades, healthcare organizations have invested large amounts of money, time, and effort to study the trend of ever-increasing numbers of high-utilizers in the ED and discover solutions to slow this growth. Hospitals have offered care navigators, clinics for less emergent issues, and countless other alternatives, but with next to no progress. People, it seems, just wanted to come to the ED.

By Rodney D. Reider

A book about improvement. Another self-help book? One by Scott Adams? Isn’t he the Dilbert guy? It is a good read. I have consumed many self-help books over the years. In fact, I have found many things worth incorporating to improve efficiency, assist in public speaking, or even enhance team-building with the result of positive outcomes through a different or even more purposeful approach. The books always added to my outlook or arsenal, but Mr. Adams discusses thinking itself. He believes and expounds upon a very enlightening and yet simplistic approach; our need for learning to think better and our internal unwarranted confidence in the outcomes of our own thought process and decision-making.

By Dr. Seleem R. Choudhury, DNP

More people are infected with and have died from the coronavirus in the U.S. than anywhere else in the world, according to the available data at the time of this article’s publication (Andrew, 2020). Even with these astounding numbers, researchers are almost certain that the number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. have been significantly undercounted, since individuals with few to no symptoms are rarely tested.

By Renee Jensen

This is a trying time for leaders in the healthcare industry. The pandemic is putting stress on operations and financials, and is straining the capacity of the entire healthcare system. We have huge challenges to overcome, but it’s difficult to know how to lead and find a way forward in a situation no one has experienced before.

By Rodney D. Reider

As we know, healthcare leaders have challenging careers. We are constantly navigating the changing healthcare landscape amidst staffing pressures, quality and safety excellence expectations, financial demands, (pandemics), updates on the latest technology all the while continually attempting to avoid the ever-present political pitfalls. We are not just setting goals for the organization; we are in an evolving and advanced environment of constant re-prioritizing.

By Lee Ann Liska

“Can you set up the Zoom for this weekend?” “Let’s do a Teams meet.” “Should I call you on Google Hangout or should we have a Google Meeting?” “Mute yourself!” “You have to mute your computer so there’s no echo.” “You’re breaking up – move to the other side of the closet for a stronger connection.” “You should probably turn off your video.” “Where are you this week?”

by John N. Kastanis

Yet again, another book has recently been published covering the shortcomings of the current U.S. Healthcare system. But its unique approach in allowing the voice of key participants in every healthcare transaction, namely those who provide care and the ones that receive it, make it a very worthwhile read. I am referencing “Healthcare From the Trenches” by Dr. Alejandro Badia.

Health System Executive Brings Over 20 Years’ Experience, Extensive Industry Relationships, and History of Success with Provider Groups to MedSign

New York, June 23, 2020: MedSign International Corporation, a digital health technology company announced today that industry leader John N. Kastanis has been appointed to the company’s Senior Advisory Board, one of the industry’s strongest advisory boards for Telehealth solutions.

Kastanis brings to the Board significant executive experience in leading high acute, tertiary, quaternary-care and specialty hospitals with core expertise in strategic planning, governance, fund development, academic medicine, while also managing large Medicaid and Medicare patient populations.

“John is the perfect addition to our Advisory Board, and we are thrilled to have him join us in our mission in bringing Qortex to everyone”, said MedSign CEO Thomas Conroy. “John has spent years running urban-based teaching hospitals and has seen first-hand, the digital gap faced by many poor, elderly, and minority people. Quality and access to care have always been a part of John’s work and we are beyond grateful that he has seen the power of Qortex. We are honored to have him on the team”, Conroy added.