Leadership Performance Measures

[image] Doctor pointing on a large display. Leadership Performance Measures.

[Audio] Leadership is one of the most examined human behavioral phenomena. However, no widely accepted definition of leadership exists. Despite this, leadership is critical to the success or failure of systems we established to improve and maintain our existence. One such system is our healthcare system, which most people rely on to improve, prevent, and maintain a healthy condition. Contemporary healthcare systems are equipped with modern health technology and information that aid in the operations of health organizations to provide quality service to their stakeholders. How health informatics are managed and used effectively depend highly on the leadership performance within these organizations. Thus, we will be looking into five leadership performance measures, and how they impact health informatics and patient outcomes..

PERFORMANCE MEASURES. Informatics Competencies. Employee Turnover.

[Audio] Informatics competencies are imperative to healthcare workers, especially those in leadership positions, with human and financial resource management responsibilities. Informatics competencies are imperative to healthcare workers, especially those in leadership positions, with human and financial resource management responsibilities. Leaders with informatics competencies can better guide direct-care workers on informatics skills and technology, and subsequently benefit patient care. Informatics competencies are imperative to healthcare workers, especially those in leadership positions, with human and financial resource management responsibilities..

[Audio] The table represents the informatics competencies relevant to nurse leaders from a thorough literature review of 15 articles. The competencies identified were specific to both technology and information systems and were broken down into three main categories: informatics knowledge; informatics skills; and computer skills. Having these informatics competencies, in addition to leadership, management, and administration would allow leaders to be most effective in their roles. However, if leaders do not possess these core leadership competencies in health informatics, mitigating risks and maximizing the benefits of using information and communication.

[Audio] Healthcare leaders are tasked with managing change which involves transitioning individuals, teams, and organizations to a desired future state by planning, controlling, and renewing the organization’s direction, structure, and capabilities to achieve its mission. Leadership in the healthcare sector emphasizes the use of effective strategies to facilitate organizational change initiatives and overcome resistance to change. Misguided change in direction may be the result of leaders failing to communicate with, engage and change behavior of staff, thus, negatively impact quality healthcare service. To mitigate resistance, some leaders strategically involve everybody in the change, which allows them to contribute with their ideas and leads to a successful change (bottom-up)..

[Audio] The diagram represents a change cycle process comprising of five main sequences. Expert suggested that this cycle provides tool to evaluate leadership performance in change management. It can also be used as an instrument for leader assess and address challenges in healthcare now and the future..

[Audio] In any organization, employees who are motivated, satisfied, and committed emotionally towards organizational goal achievement, results in higher worker output in the face of challenges. Therefore, employee engagement is imperative which is significantly associated with the leadership style being utilized. Higher employee engagement levels are observed due to effective leadership styles, but ineffective styles result in lower engagement levels which can drastically impact health services provided. Transformational leadership style entertains more leader-follower interactions to achieve set goals by using techniques such as charisma, motivation and intellectual stimulation, thus, resulting in high output quality amid high-stress working conditions in the health sector. The transactional leadership approach takes on and incentive system and employee engagement is base only on conditions (active or passive). Active leadership monitors workers and responds to immediate issues, while passive leadership only responds the occurrence of issues requiring intervention..

A person and person in lab coats looking at a tablet Description automatically generated.

[Audio] Organizations in the healthcare industry on average face challenges in retaining employees which can have an adverse effect providing service. Research has linked employee turnover rate to leadership styles implemented in an organization as one of the factors. A high employee turnover rate disrupts optimal performance and the facilitation of healthcare services which puts a strain on the system in multiple ways. Patient care can be affected with a high employee turnover. This means there are frequent gaps in positions which can potentially lead to poor monitoring of patients, nurses and aides oversights, and loss of patients’ confidence. There is the cost of reduced productivity when an employee leaves, and the hiring process itself can be expensive and resource intensive..

[Audio] The findings from the data revealed the employees in the healthcare industry preferred transformational and democratic leadership styles to enhance employee loyalty and reduce turnover intention. This data can be used as a guide to improve or approach an employee turnover issue in an organization..

[Audio] A general priority for healthcare providers is to create an environment consisting of patient safety and quality care. Approximately 1 in 10 hospitalized patients is still harmed while under hospital care. The safety and quality of care a hospitalized patient receives is influenced by the effective leadership to improve teamwork, error management and prevention, situational awareness, etc. Patient falls, medication errors, and patient and family complaints showed a significant association with toxic leadership behaviors. Nurse leaders who encourage frontline nurses to openly communicate and share new ideas normally lead to better patient safety and quality of care..

[Audio] The data above represents various patient safety and quality of care outcomes assessed in 14 studies which were thoroughly reviewed. The outcomes that were investigated mostly were adverse patient outcomes and quality of care, and the positive or negative effects of leaderships styles. There, it was suggested hospitals should devise strategies to implement transformational leadership practices to enhance better patient outcomes..

[image] Doctor pointing on a large display. References.