The Healthcare Hub
Vision Note Q113: Attitude, Actions and Accountability: Are You With Me?
-
Bruce Johnson, Executive Chairman
This is a first in a quarterly series from CEO Bruce Johnson on his vision for the healthcare industry in a time of great change – and great opportunity.
No apologies, the healthcare industry is my passion. I can talk with you about it 365-days a year. And over the course of the first three months of 2013, there is plenty to talk about. So much change is hitting our industry. The mechanics of healthcare are a moving target with two constants: the need to reduce costs and the requirement to increase quality of care. There are many roads that lead to those outcomes, but underlining it all are three principles I am challenging GHX and the industry to consider:
Attitude is Contagious: I have always felt that attitude is contagious. From a business standpoint, this is crystal clear. If you assemble energetic, passionate, talented people, you create an environment that is collaborative, innovative and exciting. Professionals (and I am talking about people across the board – manufacturers, doctors, hospital administrators, insurance agents, etc.) who embrace change, feel passionate and proud of the new healthcare market they are creating and work collaboratively within healthcare, will be the ones that succeed. Change is happening, folks, so let’s embrace it – and do so with a smile on our face, and an open mind and spirited heart.
Actions, Not Intentions: I read a great quote recently from Maya Angelou: “Remember, people will judge you by your actions, not your intentions. You may have a heart of gold, but so does a hard-boiled egg.” The healthcare industry has talked a lot about change for a few years now. I’ve talked a lot about change! But, the majority of institutions have done little. Now is the time to act. Yes, the ACA is forcing the hands of many, but we can all agree, politics aside, that the industry needed to change. Now is the time for your organization to start implementing those changes that you’ve been thinking about for years. Now is the time for some strategic risk. Not only will you be working for the best interest of the patient, but you’ll also be seen as a leader, a progressive-thinker and a “doer” within the healthcare industry. Now’s the time … go!
Accountability to Challenge the Status Quo: I am a firm believer that without accountability, fear, uncertainty and procrastination take over. And fear, uncertainty and procrastination are incubators for the status quo. Every organization and every professional needs a sense of accountability to go out and execute on the change that I described above. That is the only way we are going to create a new healthcare industry that challenges the status quo. Because, the status quo is just not working.
What do you think about these three pillars for success in the healthcare industry? Are you with me? In the new spirit of collaboration among healthcare partners, I am curious to hear your views. Leave your thoughts in the comment section below and let’s talk about it.