Please write 450 word reply to the following discussion post. Must have 3 scholarly sources AND 2 biblical integrations. Here are the instructions for the original discussion post. I will upload information from Chapters 4 and 5 to the assigned writer: After reading the profiles of the healthcare administrators provided in Chapter 4 of the course text as well as reviewing the challenges and changes described in Chapter 5, please respond to the following: Discuss the key themes discovered among the profiles of the healthcare administrators/managers. Evaluate the growth/changes described in healthcare management. What will be the impact on the health system (both direct and non-direct) of these changes? Below is the discussion post you will reply to:
Let me start off with this bible quote “above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins” 1 Peter 4:8 (Christian Standard Bible). A constant theme throughout the bible is love, and more specifically, to love one another. Just as there is a main theme within the bible, there are themes which describe the healthcare management career. Buchbinder and Thompson (2010) say “These key themes reflect interest in the profession and satisfaction; the role of mentors; variation in preparation, experiences, and roles; and challenges faced by healthcare managers” (p. 195).
Interest in this profession deals with having a genuine interest in healthcare and business and gaining satisfaction by making a difference in people’s lives by managing the work that is being carried out. Combining an interest in business, serving others, and improving healthcare is significant for a healthcare management professional. Satisfaction in everyday roles are vital as well—working closely with other professionals, being challenged and never bored, and demonstrating tasks and leading others. Also building and shaping relationships, creating experiences to expand knowledge, and having opportunities to advance in positions are forms of satisfaction (Buchbinder and Thompson, 2010, pp. 196-197).
The role of mentors in healthcare management play significant influences and contribute to success in manager’s lives. Mentors in healthcare management could include family, bosses, work colleagues, residency preceptors, professional colleagues, professors, and more. Shared knowledge and expertise assist new managers in learning and growing their knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs). Mentors help future managers gain different perspectives on issues based on their own previous experiences and challenges. Mentors can also provide networking opportunities for career advancement (Buchbinder and Thompson, 2010, pp. 197-198). Additionally, Shaikh and AlTurabi (2016) defines mentorship as “…influential participants in shaping professional identity, modeling professional behaviors, offering guidance and support, and facilitating entry into organizational and professional networks” and also says “Mentoring can lead to improved and enhanced personal satisfaction, empowerment, internal motivation, and personal and professional growth” (p. 48). Lastly, by assessing specific leadership skills and competencies, a mentor program can have a positive impact on students (Shaikh and AlTurabi, 2016, p. 49). Going into healthcare management with a mentor will be beneficial in the long run.
When it comes to variation in preparation, experiences, and roles in healthcare management, there are different career paths. Backgrounds of healthcare managers vary, as they come from all different types of backgrounds—from exposure to health services in high school or college, to business, or even liberal arts. Though knowledge of business and health are required to thrive in this field, there is no single or specific track to any healthcare management position. Since there are a range of managerial opportunities within the field, there are numerous paths one can take. Specific individual career goals can be designed to tailor to the future healthcare manager (Buchbinder and Thompson, 2010, pp. 198-199).
External challenges healthcare managers face includes cutbacks in reimbursements, intensifying regulations, the effects of the changing regulations, and competition with other organizations. Additionally, a lack of understanding among stakeholders regarding different sectors of the organization is a challenge as well. Internal challenges include organizational resources, cohesiveness and performance, staff coordination, direction of organization, and personal professional challenges. Other internal challenges could be limited resources, cost of turnover, staffing issues, and effective communication among staff and executive leaders. Lastly, another major challenge of a new healthcare manager is the wrestle of balancing family and career (Buchbinder and Thompson, 2010, pp. 199-200). As a new healthcare manager starting off, one should expect many challenges to face and overcome.
Areas that the field of healthcare management can grow in include “…long-term care, elder care, geriatrics; information technology and data management; Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal health programs; consulting; performance improvement/ quality/ patient safety; primary care/ ambulatory care; clinical leadership; and reimbursement management in insurer care organizations” (Buchbinder and Thompson, 2010, pp. 200-201). People are living longer and therefore will need a greater amount of services, leaving healthcare management opportunities in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, continuing care retirement communities, and rehabilitation facilities. The use of electronic records and information technology are increasing within the health industry which leads to healthcare management opportunities in managing data and designing or maintain clinical and financial information systems. More and more individuals are requiring public support from federal programs which presents opportunities for healthcare managers in public health, health promotion and improvement, health reporting and accountability, and emergency preparedness. There is also a need for healthcare managers to serve as consultants to healthcare organizations who have pressing issues which affect their competitive position and financial viability. Pressures to improve the quality of care among patients in healthcare organizations leave opportunities for healthcare managers who have an understanding of technical and customer services to improve their organizations in order to perform at the highest level of quality (Buchbinder and Thompson 2010, p. 201). Sebastiano et al. (2017) say that a healthcare manager “…[requires] a flexible production capacity [that] should hire temporary, flexible, or part-time workers (or both) rather than asking their current employees to work overtime or in shifts” (p. 568). Also, Aloini et al. (2018) say “At the organizational level, hospitals managers should look at evidence as legitimization of the adoption of innovative health technologies that prove to be cost-effective and safe in other organizations…” and “…the use of [evidence-based management] paradigm by physicians, hospital managers, and policy-makers to enable change and improvements along the whole supply and value chain of healthcare” (p. 2063). There is value in the access of primary care which gives opportunities to managers in physician practices, specialty group practices, HMOs, and other ambulatory care settings. Integration of clinical personnel creates nurse and physician leadership positions which is instrumental to boosting organizational performance. Lastly, the importance of insurers and managed care organizations who pay for care present opportunities in healthcare management in provider reimbursement which is a high growth sector in the future (Buchbinder and Thompson, 2010, p. 202).
If these growths and changes were implanted within the healthcare field, both direct and non-direct health systems will be positively impacted by the increasing collaboration between different sectors. Greater management, leaders, resources, policies, technological advancement, education, federal assistance, and more will improve within the overall healthcare field. The need for future healthcare managers are vital and can positively change the culture of healthcare as we know it. To conclude, I would like to reflect on Ephesians 4:13 and it says, “until we all reach unity in the faith and the knowledge of God’s son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness” (Christian Standard Bible). No one is all knowing besides our Lord and Savior, therefore, there is always room to grow, especially in the healthcare management field.
References
Aloini, D., Cannavacciuolo, L., Gitto, S., Lettieri, E., Malighetti, P., & Visintin, F. (2018). Evidence-Based Management for Performance Improvement in HealthCare. Management Decision, 56(10), 2063–2068. https://doi.org/10.1108/md-10-2018-004Links to an external site.
Buchbinder, S. B., & Thompson, J. M. (2010). Career opportunities in health care management: perspectives from the field. Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Sebastiano, A., Belvedere, V., Grando, A., & Giangreco, A. (2017). The effect of capacity management strategies on employees’ well-being: A quantitative investigation into the long-term healthcare industry. European Management Journal, 35(4), 563–573. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emj.2016.12.001 Links to an external site.
Shaikh, A., Alturabi, L., & West, D. J. (2016). Developing a Successful Master of Health Administration Student Mentor-Mentee Program. The Health Care Manager, 35(1), 47–57. https://doi.org/10.1097/hcm.0000000000000091
