Effective leadership in the healthcare setting is represented by many factors. Proper management strategies increase the quality of patient care, in particular by elevating the level of engagement and competence of medical staff. The most effective practices include personal integrity, communication, and critical thinking (Hargett et al., 2017). Thus, the leader needs to act honestly and openly to build the trust of staff and patients. It is also important to be able to communicate with the team, provide clear instructions and feedback, as well as articulate challenging aspects. Finally, it is crucial to think critically in order to evaluate and solve emerging problems. These aspects will undoubtedly provide favorable outcomes, as they help to make communication more effective, which improves the quality of care. They also ensure that relevant information is used in patient care.
Practices require the use of credible data as a leader needs to be professional in order to build credibility and make decisions, which implies extensive knowledge. The types of data which need to be used include “internally developed data, best practice, stakeholders’/clients’ expectations, instances of external practice, expert opinions, quantitative research, and qualitative research” (Janati et al., 2018, p 310). To increase employees’ morale, leaders can consider employees’ values and concerns, personal productivity results, related patient outcomes, and opportunities for skills and knowledge development. For example, Lisa Spruce (2020) lists practices aimed at increasing employee motivation, including integrity, attention to the needs of employees, and the creation of a caring atmosphere. Using these techniques requires evidence, as the leader must judge the current state of the team from the available data.
The main focus of evidence-based management is effective decision making, which can determine patient outcomes. An example from personal experience can be used to illustrate this statement. The hospital in my neighborhood was experiencing a shortage of medical staff, which led to a decrease in the quality of patient care and the need to increase the productivity of staff. Thus, the manager decided to increase the burden on the existing workers, which aggravated the problem. The leader should have used data related to the values ​​and concerns of the staff to motivate them properly. Opportunities for teamwork and improved communication should also have been considered. Outcomes might be more positive by improving overall engagement and productivity through teamwork and the personal motivation of healthcare workers.
References
Hargett, C. W., Doty, J. P., Hauck, J. N., Webb, A., Cook, S. H., Tsipis, N. E., Neumann, J. A., Andolsek, K. M., & Taylor, D. C. (2017). Developing a model for effective leadership in healthcare: a concept mapping approach. Journal of Healthcare Leadership, 9, 69-78. Web.
Janati, A., Hasanpoor, E., Hajebrahimi, S., Sadeghi-Bazargani, H., & Khezri, A. (2018). An evidence-based framework for evidence-based management in healthcare organizations: A Delphi study. Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences, 28(3), 305-314. Web.
Spruce, L. (2020). Tips for avoiding burnout and improving morale. AORN. Web.