Healthcare requires leadership. Leadership training is particularly important considering the difficulties inherent in finding staff these days. If your community health facility can provide leadership training for staff, you have an opportunity to build a future pool of leaders. This will lessen your reliance on external resources. It will also create engaging opportunities for your existing teams that may help you retain them longer.
What types of training are available today? Why should your top knowledge workers (i.e. doctors) go through leadership training? We have answers.
Why Your Doctors Need Leadership Training
The Harvard Business Review says, “Nearly all physicians take on significant leadership responsibilities throughout their career, but unlike any other occupation where management skills are important, physicians are neither taught how to lead nor are they typically rewarded for good leadership.” While the ability to lead is almost always listed as a key component of the clinical search process, like business acumen, this just isn’t a skill that is taught in medical school.
Some of the best leadership skills for FQHC doctors include both soft and hard skills:
- Resilience in the face of change.
- How to coach and develop teams.
- Conflict resolution.
We know that these skills affect patients, staff, and the culture of your organization. We also know that these skills equate to higher levels of doctor satisfaction and even lower levels of burnout. Where can you find this kind of leadership training for doctors—and even for your lower-level staff at your FQHC?
Where to Find Leadership Training for Your FQHC Staff
The key to building an FQHC leadership training program is to create a personalized approach. Teaching your managers to create career roadmaps with their employees can improve engagement and retention. Building a path toward educational advancement with your teams is critical to improving their satisfaction but it will also help you create the leaders of the future for your organization. These trainings can encompass:
- Online learning from nationally accredited institutions, which are often a low-cost way to build skills.
- Local University classes provide the camaraderie of fellow students in addition to real skills.
- Medical conferences encourage clinicians to further their learning.
The Rural Health Information Hub (RHIhub) lists national conferences, such as the annual NACHC Community Health Institute & Expo or the Annual National Association of Community Health Centers Financial, Operations Management/IT Conference & Expo.
One of the best leadership training for FQHC organizations is the FQHC Academy. These seminars are appropriate for your board as well as doctors. You can also receive a group discount for staff and board members. The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) also has several great career-tracked leadership programs to benefit your team. Of particular note, the NACHC and FQHC training are geared to the specialized needs of our community, so the topics are particularly relevant and timely.
UHC Solutions is the nation’s leading staffing agency devoted to the FQHC community. If you’re looking for a staffing partner, we can help.
