Health care leaders, academics discuss performance improvement

“Innovation is change that creates a new dimension of performance," said Peter Drucker, the famed educator and author known as the father of modern management. In health care, adopting transformational performance improvement approaches and techniques translates into better patient outcomes and patient experience and better, more efficient operations.

In AHA’s “Health Care Moments of Truth” talks, a new thought leadership series available at AHA.org, you hear and see health care executives and academics break down priorities for creating and sustaining a culture of performance improvement (PI) at hospitals and health systems. They explain why performance improvement must start at the top with C-suite and board members and integrate throughout the hospital or health system — engaging clinical, operational and financial teams. And how to make it happen.

Performance improvement must start at the top with C-suite and board members and integrate throughout the hospital or health system — engaging clinical, operational and financial teams.

You’ll learn how hospitals are using a variety of performance improvement approaches and techniques, including Lean, Six Sigma, robust process improvement, A3 problem-solving and so much more.
  
A few key takeaways shared by our impressive panel of leaders:

The board’s role is key in driving and sustaining organizational transformation. Board members provide continuity during the transformational journey as well as accountability. Whether listening to progress of initiatives or ensuring innovation and performance improvement are aligned with strategic planning and integrated across the organization, board members play a crucial role.

Having the right data when you need it is crucial for PI success. Collecting the right data to drive performance improvement can be challenging. It needs to be actionable and collected in ways that help health care teams have the most impact. Health care leaders share their insights in one of the short videos.
 
An empowered front line of problem-solvers is the engine of PI success. Everyone needs to be moving in the same direction on innovation, change and performance improvement, and staff are the key resource. When C-suite leaders empower front-line staff by modeling behavior and coaching and supporting them, performance improvement can be successfully integrated and sustained.

Steady, strategic leadership is a must to keep improvement moving forward. It’s essential that health care leaders prioritize performance improvement and support clinicians and staff, the work and the transformation journey. Whatever the performance improvement approach, building a depth of leadership will accelerate and sustain change.
  
Check out the “Health Care Moments of Truth” leadership videos.

Andrew Jager is director, population health, at the AHA Center for Health Innovation.

Follow our AHA weekly blogs or on social media with #HealthCareInnovation Thursday.