Change Management

Change Management / en Tue, 22 Oct 2024 21:29:45 -0500 Wed, 31 Oct 18 13:05:49 -0500 The New Health Care Reality and Its Effects on Health Care Environmental Services /new-health-care-reality-and-its-effects-health-care-environmental-services <h1>The New Health Care Reality and Its Effects on Health Care Environmental Services</h1><h3>By Osmond Adams</h3>October 31st, 2018&nbsp;|&nbsp;Formats:&nbsp;Technical Paper |&nbsp;Content Areas:&nbsp;Administration&nbsp;|&nbsp;Tags:&nbsp;Change Management, Management, Sustainability<hr>Over the last 25 years the health care environment has undergone major and traumatic change. The meteoric rise in the cost of health care, combined with the need for quality and competition, put the health care industry at the top of the national agenda for reform. In the late 1980s, significant changes occurred in the way hospitals were paid. Omachonu (1991), in examining the efficiency of US hospitals, noted that in the late 80s health care costs in the US skyrocketed to almost $700 billion and that the way hospitals were reimbursed provided little incentive for efficiency. Payment by Medicaid and insurers was determined primarily on the costs incurred in providing patient care (Omachonu, 1991). In effect, the system encouraged waste, and provided little incentive for efficiency. The new system of reimbursement known as the Prospective Pricing System (PPS) was introduced to help drive down costs and improve efficiency. The increase in health care associated infections (HAIs) is an alarming national issue. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2002), HAIs raised by 36% over the last 25 years and the cost is estimated at between 28 and 45 billion dollars. Annually 2 million patients suffer from HAIs and an estimated 900 die. This ranks HAIs as the fifth leading cause of death in the USA (CDC, 2009). The prevalence of HAIs combined with the emergence of a number of new pathogenic bacteria has given rise to national alarm. This continues to be an area of significant focus. The combination of reimbursement changes, HAIs and newly emerging pathogens have had a significant impact on health care Environmental Services (ES). While many hospitals have been forced to reduce ES staff and reduce budgets, these changes have also given rise to innovations and creativity within the industry. Today, despite their many challenges, ES is an important&nbsp;participant in making decisions around construction, technology, infection prevention and patient satisfaction in health care institutions. This paper will examine how these changes in the health care industry have impacted ES operations. &nbsp;<div class="col-md-8"><div><h4 class="text-align-center">Access Today</h4>If you do not have member access, complete the form below to view this resource.If you are a member, login and access the technical paper through Key Resources on this page.&nbsp;MktoForms2.loadForm("//sponsors.aha.org", "710-ZLL-651", 2931);</div></div>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Wed, 31 Oct 2018 13:05:49 -0500 Change Management Hiring & Retaining the Right Staff /hiring-retaining-right-staff <h1>Hiring &amp; Retaining the Right Staff</h1> <h3>By Carl Solomon Sr., MBA, CHESP</h3> August 31st, 2018&nbsp;|&nbsp;Formats:&nbsp;Technical Paper |&nbsp;Content Areas:&nbsp;Administration, Environmental Sanitation Operations, Financial Stewardship |&nbsp;Tags:&nbsp;Change Management, Employee Engagement, Employee Life Cycle, Leadership, Lean/Six Sigma, Management, Process Improvement, Staffing Models, Succession Planning <hr /> In today’s health care environment, Environmental Services Leaders must find new and creative ways to attract, hire, and retain great employees. It becomes an even greater challenge when opening a new facility, which may require hiring 100 or more employees. Also, you may be competing with neighboring hospitals trying to attract the same employee pool. With a focus on customer service and improving the patient experience, it is essential to hire people who are a good fit to your hospital during recruiting, hiring, and onboarding processes. The purpose of this paper is to provide you with proven strategies in attracting, interviewing, hiring and retaining staff. &nbsp; <div class="col-md-8"> <div> <h4 class="text-align-center">Access Today</h4> If you do not have member access, complete the form below to view this resource. If you are a member, login and access the technical paper through Key Resources on this page. &nbsp; MktoForms2.loadForm("//sponsors.aha.org", "710-ZLL-651", 2942); </div> </div> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Fri, 31 Aug 2018 14:52:38 -0500 Change Management The Changing Face of Environmental Services /changing-face-environmental-services <h4>By Lisa Ford, BS, CHESP</h4> May 23, 2014&nbsp;|&nbsp;Formats:&nbsp;Article&nbsp;|&nbsp;Content Areas:&nbsp;Administration, Financial Stewardship&nbsp;|&nbsp;Tags:&nbsp;Change Management, Communication, Cost Management, Patient Experience of Care <hr /> The face of health care is changing—changing at a very fast pace. Hospitals are seeing a strong shift from inpatient care to outpatient care, patients are utilizing urgent care centers versus emergency rooms, and patients are qualifying as observation status versus inpatient status. This has all had a huge impact on hospital reimbursements. The change is happening at what seems like rapid speed. Health care professionals are experiencing unprecedented times, and we need to know how to survive in a climate we have never experienced before. What we all should realize is that it is not a phase we are going through; this is our new reality. We need to not only understand it and get used to it, but also prosper in it. Roadblocks Reimbursements are one of the greatest obstacles facing health care. Environmental Services (EVS) professionals need to have a clear understanding of how our profession ties into those reimbursements and how we can have a positive affect on them. EVS is a cost center for hospitals. We have an impact on the reimbursements from HCAHPS scores, but we also need to demonstrate our impact on reducing hospital acquired infections (HAIs). Some may refer to those costs as “soft costs,” but it’s money we lose when we have to spend it, and there is also a huge cost to the affected patient and their family. EVS has to not only show value as a cost center, but I feel it has to constantly vie for its place in the “food chain.” Clinical staff is constantly stretched to meet the direct needs of the patients. Any of those “non-clinical” tasks that clinical staff have done in the past are slowly moving down on their priority list. In some cases, EVS is being asked to pick some of those up as additional tasks since we’re considered a support service. Many of our EVS technicians have done the same job for 20+ years. To add to the challenge, many of our supervisory level professionals are not experienced at being change agents. Breaking through the obstacles How can EVS better impact the new world it is experiencing? Some of the obvious things: We can make sure the patients who do visit our hospitals and health care settings experience a clean environment and that their risk of acquiring an HAI is drastically reduced because our staff is proficient in the proper use of chemicals and cleaning of high-touch surfaces. We can strive on proper hand hygiene. If patients are utilizing urgent care centers more, then we need to ensure that the patients coming in the doors of the emergency room are taken care of promptly. Demonstrate the way your team touches the environment. Hospital leaders may not be aware of the necessary tasks you may be doing that add value to the patient experience. Speak of it every chance you get. As mentioned, these are unprecedented times. We need to redefine our value as EVS professionals. This may not be as easy as&nbsp;it sounds. Change to our routines is a challenge, but it is our new reality and we need to prepare our front line technicians. Work closely with your teams on their goals and how they are going to change in the future. EVS resources Education is more important than ever. EVS professionals need to saturate themselves in knowledge to lead the future. AHE’s online learning platform, ENGAGE, is a tremendous resource. Encourage your team to join AHE’s LinkedIn discussions. We are resources to each other. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Read articles and research what you don’t know. It is very important to familiarize yourself with the new technologies in EVS. A great way to do this is by attending EXCHANGE 2014, where you’ll be able to learn about these latest technologies at the Healthcare Marketplace. Connect yourself with other 91��members—there are others in the EVS field who can offer you support or a resource to get where you need to go. It is key to be familiar with the regulatory agencies that effect our professions,&nbsp;such as the Joint Commission and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Regulations change and we must stay relevant to our profession, but we also must be able to speak with knowledge behind us. We need to change how we think and how we act as professionals. It is crucial to develop a roadmap from which your team can work. These resources can be a part of your team’s roadmap. You need to be the GPS for your team and lead the way. Fri, 23 May 2014 13:04:52 -0500 Change Management