Half of leaders say hospital performance is mediocre

More than two-thirds (76 percent) of healthcare executives say their organizations have a clear strategic vision, and 84 percent say employees are engaged in that execution, according to a HealthLeaders Media survey. Nevertheless, about half (49 percent) say their organization operates at a mediocre level with top performers getting recognition and rewards. Only about 39 percent say their organization acts decisively when it comes to nonperforming employees.

One reason may be that employees don't think their individual performance matters and may leave the organization.

Another reason may be too many goals. Although 80 percent of CEOs say their organizations have a focus of a few large strategic goals, only 67 percent of clinicians felt the same way.

For instance, overall physician engagement last year slightly fell to 4.12 out of a five-point scale in 2011, dropping from 4.17 in 2010, according to survey results from consulting company Morehead Associates in May. Among the year-to-year changes, physicians reported they were less confident they would stay with the same institution, less satisfied overall with working with the hospital or didn't believe the hospital provided safe care as much.

When trying to introduce change into a large organization, hospital CEOs should study the common mistakes leaders often make, Kent Bottles, senior fellow at the Thomas Jefferson University School of Population Health, wrote in a Hospital Impact blog post yesterday. Among them are:

  • Allowing too much complacency
  • Failing to create short-term wins
  • Neglecting to anchor changes firmly in the corporate culture
  • Declaring victory too soon

For more information:
- check out the GE Healthcare-HealthLeaders Media survey (registration required)  
- see the Hospital Impact blog post

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