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Hello!
Welcome to the January 2010 issue of THE PATHFINDER.
It's one of those quiet Saturday afternoons - just before winter's dusk - and I've been thinking about Change all afternoon. Not just plain, old every day change - because all of us who have worked for years in healthcare are familiar, experienced with change - have made peace with the realization that change is inevitable, constant and most times, necessary. No, what I have been thinking about today is the human reaction of an agency's leadership when the pace of Change comes faster than anything they have experienced before.
"There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things." Niccolo Machiavelli
Change can cause leadership to feel confused and out of control. They may feel a sense of loss and certainly Change will cause interpersonal conflict.
If leadership thinks that the organization is doing well, there will be no motivation for Change. Successful Change only comes when leadership take an honest look at the organizations' competitive situation, market position, technological advantages and performance....and takes a frank and honest look at the competition. When the resulting analysis show clearly the negative outcome from maintaining status quo, a strategic leader will create a plan in response and develop a sense of urgency within the organization for implementing planned Changes.
(Source: Strategic Leadership and Decision Making: Preparing Senior Executives for the 21st Century)
Is it that simple? Is that all you have to do? Well, frankly no. But certainly necessary for first steps. With Change a constant element in a leader's life, I'd like to spend some more time over the next few months highlighting this topic in the newsletter.
The first article this month is a link to a blog written by Martin Zwilling, CEO and Founder of Startup Professionals. He addresses the Top Ten Traits of Great Managers.
Beth Carpenter and Associates often performs due diligence audits for potential purchasers of home health, hospice and private duty agencies. Our role is examine, in depth, the operational, clinical and administrative aspects of the agency for an interested party in order to determine the potential advantages and risks to the contemplated purchase. Our second link is to the CMS Instructions on Home Health Agency Ownership Changes.
The last link is the CMS Instructions on the New Medicare Home Health Outlier Policy. I am sure that we will be hearing more about this issue in the coming months!
As we face the cold of winter and the early loss of light, I hope that you will feel warmth from your commitment to your patient's safety and care. Seize the opportunity to share your bounty with someone less fortunate and celebrate your continuing opportunity make a difference in the lives of your patients and staff.
If we can provide you with any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Best wishes, Beth Carpenter
"Let us realize that the privilege to work is a gift, that the power to work is a blessing, that the love of work is success" David O. McKay
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