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Putting ‘human’ back in healthcare human resources

Keith Carlson Medical & Allied Healthcare

When we think of healthcare industry human resources departments, we may readily think of the processes of hiring and firing, the doling out of benefits packages, and other such responsibilities of HR professionals. In the worlds of healthcare, medicine, and nursing, employees can feel like so much cannon fodder when corporate interests appear to override the personal needs of individual staff members and the public whom they serve. Thus, we need to reevaluate the role of human resources and consider once again reasserting more of the "human" side into the mix.

Opportunity alert: A flurry of OASIS on-ramps

Lisa Pafe Civil & Government

After several months in a holding pattern due to U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) solicitation protest B-408685.18, the General Services Administration (GSA) issued an update to the long awaited on-ramps to the existing One Acquisition Solution for Integrated Services Small Business (OASIS SB) pools on April 17. GSA states that they anticipate releasing OASIS Small Business (SB) Pools 1, 3 and 4 and 8(a) sub-pools in late April 2019. Based on GSA Interact OASIS milestones provided in March 2019, the unrestricted on-ramps are likely to follow a couple of months later.

Are your employees afraid to work together?

Simma Lieberman Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Gender equity and opportunity are still lacking in many organizations. Awareness, strategy and intentional actions to close the gaps are also lacking. Most organizations I've spoken with have statements, posters and resource groups that support gender equity. This is good, but not enough. Without behavior changing at every level, there will be no real lasting change. We need everyone to ensure workplaces and communities practice gender equity and develop strategies that build trust, prevent harassment, and eliminate bias every day. When people don't work with someone from another gender or get to know them, it seeds distrust.

3 steps to impactful sexual harassment prevention training

Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk Management

#MeToo has had a significant impact on organizational awareness of pervasive harassment issues. The number of states implementing sexual harassment prevention training requirements continues to increase, as does the number of progressive organizations offering training regardless of external requirements. But does all this training do anything to address the problem? Here are three steps to increase the chances it does.

Are you measuring the right things?

Linda Popky Business Management, Services & Risk Management

The good news about today's technology-enabled world is that we have the ability to measure just about anything. And the bad news is that in today’s technology-enabled world, we have the ability to measure just about anything. We are literally drowning in data points — some of them more useful than others, but all of them screaming for our attention. How do you determine on which measurements to focus? Here's the key point to remember: What gets measured gets managed.

Workplaces that work — finding synergy between people and place

Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

Do great workplaces make better workers, or do great workers make the most of their workplaces? It sounds like a chicken-or-egg question, but in practice, the answer is more complex. New research suggests that what makes workplaces work well is finding the appropriate synergy between the occupants and the environment. According to Gensler's U.S. Workplace Survey 2019, what people want most from their workplace is a great experience. What makes for a great experience, Gensler's researchers found, are not lots of extracurricular amenities and hip socializing spaces but a flexible environment that supports the various ways employees need to work.

Companies typically underinvest in managers — so invest in yourself

Terri Williams Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Managers play a crucial role in organizations — in fact, the employee-manager relationship is usually the determining factor in whether an employee is engaged and committed to the organization. And yet, many companies don't invest heavily in training their managers. However, if you want to be a great manager — which can lead to being recognized and rewarded for your efforts — you may need to invest in yourself.

Is Canadian retail finally on the path to redemption?

Katherine Radin Retail

The past few years have made it seem as though retailers haven't been able to catch a break in Canada. Another month, another shutdown, or so it’s seemed. Retailers and commercial landlords in the country have experienced a wild ride, with Target opening and closing; Future Shop shutting down; and Sears, Black's, and Gymboree closing — to name a few. Although some chains continue to experience financial turmoil, the dust has begun to settle, and perhaps clear, as landlords have begun to find creative ways to showcase shopping malls in a new light.

Can patient-physician recordings be good for care?

Christina Thielst Healthcare Administration

Historically, healthcare administrators have been concerned about the risks of patients recording their conversations. Perhaps they should be more concerned about the risks of patients not having a recording of their physician or other caregiver. A recent article in Healthcare Executive examines the issue from an ethics perspective and looks at the benefits for the patient’s understanding of what is being communicated during an encounter. Patients or their family caregivers can replay sessions to clarify information they believe they have received, or simply to reassure themselves.

Structural systems and processes to sustain an association

William D. Pawlucy Association Management

Every association has a framework. A solid and well-built framework promotes sustainability and a strong structure. The following are the key structural systems and processes for performance excellence. If one is missing, the organization is not “firing on all cylinders,” and will need a tune up. We will explore each of these areas one by one and the essential items in each area that should be in place to run at peak performance. These areas are governing documents; strategic direction; performance measures; protocols and behaviors; committees and task forces; and financial oversight.

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