Health Care Management

Welcome to the Health Care Management web blog by the American Institute of Health Care Professionals, Inc. Our blog provides ongoing information, posts, articles, article curations, news, videos, and much more related to management and leadership issues in health care management and leadership. We encourage visitor participation! We post frequently so please stop by often and read our updates. You may also review information on our Health Care Manager Certification Program by accessing here.

Satisfaction among the Elderly with Telehealth during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Posted on October 14, 2022October 14, 2022 by Dominick Flarey

By James M. Katz, BA

Telehealth is a rapidly growing field in the healthcare industry that uses technology to deliver care and services remotely. Telehealth can be used for a variety of purposes, including appointments, consultations, prescriptions, and follow-ups.

While telehealth has many benefits, including increased access to care, improved quality of care, and lower costs, there are some challenges that need to be addressed. These challenges include provider training and reimbursement, as well as ensuring patient privacy and security.

Telehealth Concept Picture — Is Telehealth growing?

The article below discusses how health care professionals turned to telehealth as a way to deliver their services to patients during the Covid-19 pandemic. The patients in the study were mostly elderly and from various cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Most scored their satisfaction 6 out of 7. Some of the patients did not find telehealth enjoyable and preferred inpatient treatment. The following article goes into further detail.

“Amid the implementation of restrictions on in-person care during the COVID-19 pandemic, many patients and providers turned to telehealth. Telehealth helped maintain care access during this time, especially for seniors, but researchers from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center wanted to determine patient satisfaction levels among the geriatric population that used virtual care.

For the study, they sent a patient satisfaction questionnaire to 278 patients over 65, 208 of whom completed the survey. The study period ranged from April 2020 to June 2021.”

Older Adults Satisfied with Telehealth During COVID-19 Pandemic, Mark Melchionna, mHealth Intelligence. October 10, 2022
Access Article here

Commentary:

Satisfaction of Telehealth:

Patients who used telehealth were more likely to report satisfaction with their care, including feeling more connected to their doctor and having better communication with their provider. They were also more likely to say they felt involved in their own care and that their care was coordinated.

Patients who used telehealth were also more likely to report better health outcomes, including fewer emergency room visits and hospitalizations, and better management of chronic conditions.

Benefits of Telehealth:

In recent years, telehealth has become an increasingly popular option for older adults. Telehealth allows patients to consult with their doctors remotely, using a computer, tablet, or smartphone. This can be especially beneficial for older adults who may have difficulty travelling to see their doctor in person.

There are a number of reasons why telehealth may be a good option for older adults. First, it can help them save time and money on travel costs. Second, it can provide them with more flexibility in terms of when and where they can consult with their doctor. And third, it can give them peace of mind knowing that they can still receive high-quality care even if they are not able to physically visit their doctor’s office.

In the past, patients had to physically go to a doctor’s office or hospital for medical care. This is no longer the case with the advent of telehealth, which allows patients to receive care remotely using technology. There are many benefits of telehealth, including increased access to care, improved outcomes, and lower costs.

Disadvantages of Telehealth:

Although telehealth has the potential to improve access to care, there are a few potential disadvantages of using telehealth services, especially when compared to in-person visits with healthcare providers. One such disadvantage is that patients may not be able to get the same level of care through a virtual visit as they would if they were meeting with their provider face-to-face.

Another potential downside to telehealth is that it can be difficult to build rapport and trust with your provider when you’re not meeting in person. This can be especially true if you’re using video conferencing for your visits, as it can be harder to read body language and cues when you’re not in the same room as the other person.

Finally, there’s always the possibility that technology will fail during a telehealth visit, which could lead to disruptions in care or even put patient safety at risk.

Is Telehealth for you?

When it comes to your health, you want the best care possible. You want to be able to see a doctor when you need to and get the treatments you need to feel better. But what if you can’t always get to the doctor’s office? What if you don’t have transportation or you live in a rural area? Telehealth might be the solution for you.

There are many benefits of telehealth. It increases access to care, especially for those who live in rural areas or who have transportation issues.

In conclusion, telehealth is a growing field that is changing how healthcare is delivered. It has the potential to improve access to care, reduce costs, and improve outcomes. However, there are challenges that need to be addressed, such as reimbursement, workforce issues, and technology infrastructure. With the right policies and investments in place, telehealth can help transform the healthcare system and improve the health of Americans.

Health Care Management:

Are you a health care professional who is interested in becoming certified as a Health Care Manager? If so, please review the Health Care Manager and Nurse Management Certification programs offered by the American Institute of Health Care Professionals, Inc. The program is based on open enrollment and is self-paced, meaning you are free to start whenever you are ready and you can move through it at your own speed. All of the exams are 100% online. The CE courses have board approvals as well. To begin, you may preview our program by Clicking Here.

Additional Resources:

Patient and family engagement: a survey of US hospital practices. Jeph Herrin, Et.Al. PMC PubMed Central Epub June 16, 2015.
Access Here

VA/Pitt Study Shows Telehealth Effective, Preferred for Veterans’ Wheelchair Design and Fit. Sheila Tunney. University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Services, December 2020.
Access Here

Strategies for Evaluating Telehealth. Dr. John Chuo Et.Al. American Academy of Pediatrics Volume 146 Issue 5. November 1, 2020
Access here

Patient and clinician experiences with telehealth for patient follow-up care. Karen Dolenan Et.Al. The American Journal of Managed Care, 01 25(1):40-44 PMID: 30667610 January 2019.
Access here

Health Care Manager Certification Blog on Employee Burnout

Posted on March 2, 2022 by Dominick Flarey

Leadership is by example and this no more true than in healthcare. Healthcare mangers need to lead and help others through the pandemic and help them reach goals. Keeping morale high is important for employees and they need to find it from their managers.

Leaders need to set examples. Please also review AIHCP’s Health Care Management Certification and see if it meets your goals

The article, “5 Ways to Restore Depleted Health Care Workers” by Leonard L. Berry, Rana L.A. Awdish, and Stephen J. Swensen look closer into leadership. They write,

“Even before the pandemic, burnout among health care workers was well documented. The pandemic turned it into a crisis. A key component of burnout is depletion, which is characterized by feeling physically and emotionally drained, just barely hanging on — like the ICU nurse who sits in her car outside the hospital and texts a friend, “I don’t think I can make it through another shift.”

To read the whole article, please click here

Please also review AIHCP’s Health Care Manager Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional needs and goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals looking for a four year certification in Health Care Management.

Employee Retention Strategies For The Healthcare Industry

Posted on November 30, 2021 by Joseph Gerard

Written By Lucy Peters

In the current labor market, employee retention is more important than ever. Some are describing the current period as ” the great resignation.” With the impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic causing many to reassess their employment and change jobs, this is doubly true in the healthcare industry, which was of course the industry most involved with dealing with the pandemic. Employers are looking for effective strategies to increase employee well-being and therefore retention, which will reduce turnover and costs associated with hiring new employees.

Why Do Employees Leave?

To come up with useful employee retention strategies, it is first important to understand why employees leave their positions. Once we understand this, we can attempt to mitigate these circumstances as much as possible. The two biggest quoted reasons are usually salary and benefits or feeling overworked. In the healthcare industry, the second option here is usually key. In fact, even pre-pandemic, the turnover rates of US hospitals were seeing a small but steady climb, reaching 19.5% in 2020. Replacing employees is expensive and time-consuming, which is why employee retention planning is also a budgetary issue. One sensible idea is to implement an exit interview or survey when an employee moves on, in which you ask them to outline exactly why they are leaving. This data will help you more effectively design your benefits and retain future employees.

Retaining employees is critical to building strong teams and nurturing talents. The key to employee retention is keeping employees both happy and motivated. This can be a particular struggle within healthcare, an industry where long hours and a high-stress environment is commonplace. All is not lost though, as there are still effective ways to increase happiness and motivation in any work environment, and they might just be the key to reducing your turnover rates.

Review Salaries And Provide Better Work Arrangements

The first thing that should be assessed is the salaries offered. Are they lower than the industry average? Remember, lower salaries may seem like a smart financial decision but can incur “hidden” costs if they are contributing to a high turnover rate, as money is spent on replacing and onboarding new employees. These days, employees are also seeking more flexible working arrangements, and this should be implemented wherever possible.

Make Employees Feel Valued

The next step is to ensure employees feel rewarded outside of salary. Some of the most effective ways to reward employees don’t have to cost the earth, and although salary should be considered here, smaller gestures can go a long way in making an employee feel valued – rewarding employees on a budget is perfectly possible. One idea you could implement is to start weekly or monthly lunches to build morale and foster teamwork. Also, ensure hard work is recognized – for example, the gesture of sending a card can go a long way and lets employees know their work is being noticed.

Offering wellness perks such as discounted gym memberships or free classes are also a great idea, as employees that are fit and healthy are much more likely to be happy. Regular surveys where employees can express their concerns or ideas is a great option – as long as you then act on these. Not only will this increase workplace morale but it also gives your employees the chance to change their working environment for the better, empowering them to do better work.

Employee retention can be a particular struggle within the healthcare industry, which has such a high turnover rate. However, there are some important strategies that can be implemented to help mitigate this. Offering perks to increase employee happiness will go a long way, but overall, the most important thing is understanding why employees leave. The use of employee surveys will help you optimise your strategy and create a working environment that they want to be in.

Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Manager Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals. The program in online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a Healthcare Manager Program

Healthcare Manager Certification Article on Nursing and Adequate Supply

Posted on April 15, 2021 by Dominick Flarey

Supply is important for any hospital or healthcare department. Supplies are critical for nurses to perform their duties and ensure patient health and safety. With Covid, these supply lines have been challenged. The importance of inventory is key to good Healthcare Management and keeping a department supplied is critical to success.

Keeping a department in healthcare supplied is key to patient health and nursing success. Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Manager Certification

The article, “How Hospital Supply Chains Impact Nurses, Patient Safety, and Margins”, from Managed Healthcare Executive Staff looks at some statistics and facts regarding supply needs and how it affects every aspect of care. The article states,

“Nurses face significant supply chain management problems that impact efficiency, patient safety, and hospital margins, according to a recent survey from Syft, a leading national provider of healthcare inventory control and end-to-end supply chain cost management software and services.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Manager Certification. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals. Also please review AIHCP’s Healthcare Case Management Program which is also online and independent study. Both programs lead to four year certifications.

Why Is Creating An Identifiable, Diverse Brand Key For Healthcare Professionals?

Posted on December 17, 2020December 17, 2020 by Joseph Gerard

Written By Lucy Peters

A sound branding strategy is key for businesses in any industry, with statistics compiled by Oberlo showing that around 86% of consumers value authenticity, and 81% feel they need to trust a brand before they support it. When it comes to healthcare branding, these values are of the essence, as is a respect for diversity. Demographic trends show that the US is experiencing a major transformation – so much so that non-Hispanic whites no longer dominate the census. By the year 2045, this group will represent less than 50% of the population, and by 2060, this number will shrink to 43%. Savvy marketers should be in tune to these changes if they wish to survive and thrive in an ever-changing world.

Key Components Of Successful Healthcare Branding

Branding strategies for the healthcare sector should contain various targets – including showing a brand’s value; building a good relationship with suppliers, peers and patients; providing patients with personalized, speedy and effective treatment; attracting top professionals to join one’s team; and boosting brand awareness. Your brand logo, website, social media channels, blogs, and other forms of media should focus on your target clients’ needs, with a view to building authentic connections based on shared values. Simplicity, emotion and continuity are additional values that should be expressed in your logo and communications. Branding in healthcare comprises everything from selecting colors for your logo or website that express trust and experience, to providing patients with feedback and good customer service, so that public reviews of your business are mainly positive.

Diversity Is Not Optional

The increasingly diverse nature of patients in America means that healthcare companies wishing to stay at the top of their game need to ensure that racial, ethnic, and other minorities are listened to. The Pew Research Center found that over 52% of American adults feel that brands should address concerns such as racism in society, and that they should actively find ways to be inclusive and avoid unconscious racism and exclusion of minorities in branding, product promotion, and all areas of business. Digital communications catering to diverse audiences should be prioritized, with areas such as language, imagery and topics being chosen in line with the needs of diverse audiences. Current advertising is increasingly representing people from various genders and cultures, as well as those with diverse body types. Authentic diversity should be more than tokenism: in order to truly work, it should arise from diverse teams that understand the needs and wishes of minority and diverse groups.

Total Market Infusion

David Maricich, President of Maricich Health in California, recently published an article on the importance of “looking at diverse communities for what they have in common, then fine-tuning the messaging by tailoring to their respective nuances.” This approach is known as ‘total market infusion’. It takes into account that various ethnic groups and other minorities have different ideas about healthcare, disparate abilities to access food, and different attitudes towards health itself. Marketing messages sent to different groups must contain essential truth, without skimping on “additional educational and grassroots awareness efforts” aimed at specific populations.

Building a reputation for trust, authenticity and continuity is vital in any sector, but arguably more so in the healthcare sector – since life and wellness depend on healthcare services in many cases. Marketing within this sector should be patient-based as well as diverse, bearing in mind the rapidly changing demographics of the nation. In order to authentically speak to various minority and diverse groups, marketing teams should themselves be diverse in order to build the additional awareness that is necessary for effective communication.

Healthcare Manager Article on Managing Cost

Posted on October 28, 2020October 29, 2020 by Dominick Flarey

Like any business, healthcare deals with managing costs in their budget. There are numerous ways to proactively manage a healthcare business budget. Healthcare Managers can play a big role in keeping prices down. Keeping prices down benefits everyone

Learn more about becoming a Healthcare Manager by reviewing AICHP’s Healthcare Manager Certification program

The article, “How health care businesses can proactively manage their costs” by Jeffrey Stevenson discusses healthcare management of costs. He states,

“Cost control measures are likely to take a more prominent role among healthcare practitioners because of COVID-19-driven economic disruption. The pandemic has raised the stakes for physician-owners, some of whom have been joining multi-service organizations to reduce their administrative burdens and pursue new avenues of growth, to take a more hands on approach to driving down costs and ensure their businesses are being run profitably.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Manager Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study. Qualified professionals can earn a four year certification.

Healthcare Manager Program Article on Leadership Styles

Posted on October 22, 2020 by Dominick Flarey

Do you have a Leadership Style ?

There are a number of different leadership styles that you can use to keep your team working towards you goal. Most of the time, individuals have their own best leadership styles, though sometimes different styles are required to work with different teams or in different circumstances. This article will discuss some popular leadership styles as well as what kinds of people, teams, and situations they fit best.

Are You An Autocrat? Autocratic leadership means that you’re the boss and you let everyone know about it. Autocratic leaders call all of the shots and aren’t usually receptive to recommendations or complaints from other people, specifically their team members. Autocratic leadership, of course, only knows when you know what you’re doing. It can also work if your team doesn’t know what they’re doing. Say for example, you’re running a new department in your company, or working with interns. Chances are your leadership is more valuable in these instances than listening to your team. Of course, as your team begins to develop their skills, backing away from an autocratic style can help you to gain insights on how best to help your team, rather than just bossing them around.

What type of leadership style do you employ?
Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Manager Program

Are You A Democratic Leader? Democratic leadership is more or less the opposite of autocratic leadership. Democratic leadership involves working closely with your team to determine what they think is best rather than making all major decisions yourself.

Democratic leadership works best if you are taking over a leadership position in a new company, or if you are comfortable with leading but may not be familiar with the exact nature of your goal. Democratic leadership can also be the way to go if you are a “leader” because it is easier for one person to pass on all of the deliverables and give all of the updates, but you don’t really have any more experience or authority than other team members. Democratic leadership can slow things down, however, so sometimes it can be important to make “executive decisions” to move things along.

Is Laissez-faire Right For You? Laissez-faire leadership means that, as the leader, you basically do nothing. You delegate tasks to others and then let them call the shots. Laissez-faire leadership can be particularly effective if your team is very large or if your leadership position is pretty high up the chain. Of course, in order to engage in laissez-faire leadership, your team needs to be able to get on without you. If your team needs to be led by the hand everywhere, you’re probably better off using a more authoritative leadership style.

Is There A Place For Bureaucratic Leadership? Bureaucratic leadership is similar to laissez-faire leadership in that it involves delegation of tasks to smaller committees within the larger team. This system of government is often derided for the time that it can take to perform certain tasks, but as a leadership style it can be surprisingly effective. As a result, the limits of bureaucratic leadership are similar to the limits on laissez-faire leadership – you need to have a large team and you need to have quite a bit of authority within your organization.

Your team needs to have fewer experts on your team, however, as the experts can be made the leaders of their own smaller teams. This method is most effective if the activities carried on by your team are very similar from day to day. Changing circumstances have a way of throwing off bureaucratic systems.

This article has only scratched the surface on the number of leadership styles that you can read about. Some might say that there is one leadership style for each leader. Still, finding out which leadership you like best can help you discover which leadership method you can use the most effectively. Of course, you should also consider your team and your situation when settling on a leadership style.

Leadership is critical to management. Your type of leadership will play important roles in how your department functions. As a healthcare professional it is critical that one utilizes the best leadership qualities to meet the needs of a healthcare department. If you are looking into leadership, please review AIHCP’s Healthcare Manager Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.

Healthcare Manager Certification Article on Employee Mental Health

Posted on August 12, 2020 by Dominick Flarey

Managers in any field or industry need to be helpful towards the mental health of employees. Healthcare managers who work also need be aware of their staffs mental needs. Nurses and other healthcare professionals need to be mentally sharp and aware and signs of mental depression or issues can be dangerous. Healthcare managers need to be aware of their staff’s overall morale and mental well being.

Employee mental health in healthcare is critical to mission success. Healthcare Managers need to be attentive these needs. Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Manager Certification

The article, “8 Ways Managers Can Support Employees’ Mental Health” by Kelly Greenwood and Natasha Krol look at how managers can help their employees. They state,

“As we navigate various transitions over the coming months and years, leaders are likely to see employees struggle with anxiety, depression, burnout, trauma, and PTSD. Those mental health experiences will differ according to race, economic opportunity, citizenship status, job type, parenting and caregiving responsibilities, and many other variables. So, what can managers and leaders do to support people as they face new stressors, safety concerns, and economic upheaval? Here’s our advice.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Manager Certification and see if it fits your academic and professional goals.

Healthcare Manager Program Article on Better Healthcare Efficiency

Posted on November 29, 2019 by Dominick Flarey

Managers within a healthcare organization are tied to two very important pillars. First patient care, and second, increasing revenue. Both are critically important not just from a moral perspective, but also from a financial and customer service aspect.

Good article on improving patient care and also increasing revenue. Please also review our Healthcare Manager Program

The article, “How to generate revenue, improve patient care” by Lisa Eramo discusses how healthcare managers and executives can increase productivity and also improve patient care. She states,

“Providing behavioral health-related services can also help providers hit quality benchmarks, bill for new and/or higher-level services, and even address social determinants of health such as food insecurity, housing instability, and health literacy.”

To read the entire article, please click here

The article gives many indepth ideas and concepts to help meet both goals of patient care and financial increases. Please also review our Healthcare Manager Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals.

Healthcare Management Certification Article on Better Hiring Practices for Departments

Posted on October 29, 2019January 11, 2023 by Dominick Flarey

Utilizing the proper talent for anything in life is critical to mission success. Whether sports or business or even healthcare. Healthcare managers need to know what healthcare professionals are best at what and then utilize those talents in the proper department for best overall outcomes. Understanding skill sets and healthcare skills is critical for the success of any department for the overall health of the patient. Healthcare Managers play a key role in whether success occurs or not by their evaluation of staff.

Putting together the best staff is key to any healthcare department. Please also review our Healthcare Management Certification

The article, “Health Care Providers Are Hiring the Wrong People” by Elena Butler and Shreya Kangovi look at the importance of a strong staff. They state,

“In healthcare, we are overdue for a “Moneyball” revolution. The shift towards value-based payment has made it clear that our system needs to do a better job generating outcomes that matter to patients — a positive health-care experience, improved health, and good quality of life. But healthcare’s current hiring practices can inhibit efforts to achieve this goal.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review our Healthcare Management Certification and see if it meets your professional goals in advancement as a Healthcare Manager.