Jaimin Patel, MD, assistant chief medical information officer at Jackson-based University of Mississippi Medical Center, shares his best strategies for team motivation and how the medical center is helping patients navigate the healthcare system.
Responses are lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: Can you share your best advice for motivating your teams?
Dr. Jaimin Patel: In order to motivate teams, I believe positive reinforcement, recognition of their work and collaboration work best. The goals are clearly communicated to the team, including achieving smaller milestones to ultimately reach the bigger goal. When the team achieves smaller milestones, we celebrate them and recognize each team member's specific contribution. Doing so boosts the team's enthusiasm to work toward the completion of larger projects. Although everyone on the team needs to be paid fairly and according to their role and contribution, in today's work culture good pay is not enough. Employees look for a pleasant workplace where healthy collaboration exists and where they are being recognized and rewarded for their good work.
Q: How does your organization gain physician buy-in when it is implementing a new technology or solution?
JP: Physician involvement starts with initial conversation, including them during the selection process and then ultimately including them during implementation of new technology to ensure physician buy-in. Depending upon the new technology or solution not only physicians but all end users who are going to be affected, including nurses, nurse practitioners and administrative staff, need to be involved.
Also, clear and repeated communications throughout the selection, implementation and post-implementation maintenance phase are necessary for buy-in. Having short discussions that inform developments in well-attended physician meetings is the most effective way of communicating and generating interest in our experience. In addition, we use subsequent follow-up emails, e-learning modules and in-class training regarding new technology as determined by physician leadership.
Q: What is the No. 1 thing you wish you knew before taking a leadership post at your organization?
JP: I think getting work done by other people is harder than doing it yourself. I did not realize this until after taking a leadership role. You cannot do all the work yourself. You must delegate as a leader and find a responsible person and frequently verify whether they are on track with the task at hand. This is vital to becoming a successful leader.
Q: In the past 12 months, how have you adapted to new patient experience expectations in the age of consumerism?
JP: The University of Mississippi has formed the office of patient experience to support patients and families to navigate the complicated healthcare system. Our team collects feedback from our patients and their families to understand the need for support services. Necessary changes are then implemented based upon such feedback. Hundreds of compliments from patients and their families are shared with employees who have gone above and beyond their expectations, thus boosting employee morale.
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