With employees' and patients' stress rising, tensions can be high. See how empathy can lower that tensity.
Michael Pizzano is the chief executive officer at Rahway, NJ-based Kindred Hospitals.
Mr. Pizzano will serve on the panel "Ambulatory Strategies to Win in Competitive Markets" at Becker's 10th Annual CEO + CFO Roundtable. As part of an ongoing series, Becker's is talking to healthcare leaders who plan to speak at the conference on Nov. 7-10 in Chicago.
To learn more and register, click here.
Becker's Healthcare aims to foster peer-to-peer conversation between healthcare's brightest leaders and thinkers. In that vein, responses to our Speaker Series are published straight from interviewees. Here is what our speakers had to say.
Question: What is the smartest thing you've done in the last year to set your system up for success?
Michael Pizzano: I firmly believe that success comes from the team around you. I have created a leadership team that has made our hospital foundation strong, our culture positive and our quality tops in the country.
Q: What are you most excited about right now and what makes you nervous?
MP: I am excited about the clinical quality that we provide our patients. The care we provide is second to none! I get nervous about the next big wave of COVID-19. Though we are prepared, it is taking a toll on clinicians' mental and physical stress.
Q: How are you thinking about growth and investments for the next year or two?
MP: In my opinion, if you are not growing, you are failing. As a hospital CEO, I strive for year-over-year growth every year. I will invest in the needs of our product to ensure that happens to the best of my ability.
Q: What will healthcare executives need to be effective leaders for the next five years?
MP: Healthcare is constantly changing; what may be relevant today could be irrelevant years from now. That said, I find empathy a need as the years go on — compassion for our patients, their families and our staff.
Q: How are you building resilient and diverse teams?
MP: I do not micromanage. My team knows our hospital's vision and mission and are the right ones for the job to ensure that is met every day. The trickle-down message hits their teams every day. This builds resiliency and consistency while, at the same time, our diverse leaders challenge the stale ways of thinking to sharpen performance.