In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, the concept of Systemness has gained prominence as a strategic approach to overcome challenges, drive efficiency, and improve outcomes. As the healthcare industry faces the aftermath of the pandemic and profitability headwinds, doing more with fewer resources has become a mandate rather than an option.
System-wide, and even at the individual hospital level, embracing a systemness mindset can help healthcare leaders manage competitive forces in their markets and achieve excellence through a change management approach. Set a course for systemness by following these key steps:
1. Build a Culture of Trust and Leadership
To embark on a systemness journey, leaders must first create a culture of trust and collaboration. The pandemic underscored the importance of effective change management and the need for healthcare leaders to be adept at circumnavigating the unexpected. As the industry grapples with a shortage of clinical providers—from anesthesia professionals to registered nurses and other clinical specialties—leaders must instill trust and work toward a shared goal of doing more with less. The formula of “one plus one equals three” emphasizes the synergy that can be achieved through collaborative leadership, fostering a culture of empowerment, and innovation.
2. Start Small to Gain Momentum
Systemness does not necessitate a complete overhaul overnight. The transition can begin with small, targeted initiatives to build momentum and trust among stakeholders. For instance, implementing central scheduling across related facilities can streamline staffing, reduce inefficiencies, and serve as a steppingstone to tackling more complex issues. Starting small allows healthcare systems to demonstrate the benefits of a systematic approach, paving the way for broader, more impactful changes in the future.
3. Measure Effectiveness Through Defined Outcomes
One of the difficulties in implementing a systemwide approach is measuring its effectiveness. The key lies in clearly defining what success looks like. Whether in the operating room or other clinical areas, establishing common standards for metrics such as on-time starts, turnover, and infection reduction provides a benchmark for success and growth. By employing a clean-sheet approach and building a clinical and fiscal model aligned with these outcomes, healthcare facilities can measure the impact of their systemness initiatives.
4. Maximize Standardization
Standardization has long been a pursuit in healthcare. By gathering, analyzing, and applying data, healthcare providers can develop best practices that enhance patient safety and improve clinical outcomes. For example, the NAPA Anesthesia Patient Safety Institute (NAPSI)—NAPA’s Patient Safety Organization—developed the Anesthesia Risk Alerts (ARA) program, which applied systemness principles to reduce the incidence of critical events in high-risk patients. The ARA program has earned national accolades for innovation in quality and risk prevention, including the 2023 Patient Safety Award from the American Society of Health Care Risk Management and the 2022 Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Award from the National Quality Forum and The Joint Commission.
As the healthcare industry confronts fiscal, clinical, and operational challenges, embracing systemness provides a holistic approach to address these issues. It encourages leaders to explore a new way of thinking where their hospitals or health systems initiate a cultural shift toward collaboration and innovation. While change is inherently difficult, the success stories of organizations that have embraced systemness demonstrate its efficacy in delivering a higher level of patient care, safety, and operational effectiveness.
In the post-pandemic world, where the landscape has shifted and resources are scarcer than ever, systemness is emerging to optimize the future of healthcare.
To learn more about bringing systemness to your facility or health system, reach out to Businessdevelopment@NAPAanesthesia.com or 833-OR1-TEAM.
Get to know NAPA at napaanesthesia.com.