Tip: Approach leaders with solutions
Across the care continuum, organizations and their employees are being charged to do more with less— less personnel and less financial support. Given these challenges, MSPs must educate their CEO and/or medical staff leaders about their department’s important work and why it’s worth the investment. That said, CEOs and other leaders don’t have time to solve everyone’s problems. If they provide an opportunity to meet with them, be prepared to summarize your challenges and suggested resolutions succinctly.
To improve your chances of securing support, be sure that your proposed solutions are targeted, well-reasoned, and in line with the organization’s goals and means. If your organization is cash-strapped, steer clear of requests for additional personnel. Instead, make the case for outsourcing or eliminating certain peripheral functions to dedicate additional energy to the most important responsibilities. Keep in mind, however, that CEOs won’t be interested in shifting tasks around without strong evidence that a different department would be able to perform the function better, more efficiently, or more easily. In most cases, longstanding medical staff services responsibilities can remain in the department, albeit with an abbreviated or improved process, or can be retired completely.
What will it take to ensure success in key functions, such as credentialing and privileging? Could the solution possibly include use of an interim staff person who works remotely? Is it time to consider outsourcing credentialing activities to a CVO? Once you identify a viable solution, obtain all the necessary information about cost and logistics. In other words, do your homework. CEOs like when people come to them with solutions and implementation strategies.