b'| EDUCATION GUIDEto identify variation in cost and quality. munication with their team and their peers,ical program to minimize admissions in a The coronavirus pandemic, however, hasparticularly those with less experience, sayshigh-risk population to strategizing on val-brought new leadership skills and behaviorsKreovsky.ue-based contracting to understanding how to light; skills and behaviors that healthcareTodays (and tomorrows) leaders must alsoto create an actionable report for a front-line systems should be seeking from now on.be effective at leading virtual teams, she adds.provider.The pandemic really illuminated theThis includes leading with empathy andEffective leaders will have to be able to need for healthcare leaders to have realflexibility, being empathetic to what employ- work with different types of leaders and staff understanding and compassion for health- ees and patients are experiencing, as well asacross the organization, says Trafton, not-care providers and staff, continues Trafton.engaging at both a professional and personaling that many population health initiatives While it is important to keep an eyelevel.require cross-functional collaboration. on business performance, we need to con- Ultimately, the ability to manage popu- A chief medical officer may have to col-stantly remember that we are asking ourlations effectively becomes imperative forlaborate closely with the IT department, for healthcare providers to bring the highesthealthcare leaders as the professional movesexample, to ensure that the organization level of commitment, skills and flexibility toincreasingly toward value-based models ofis using a single, trusted source of relevant the hospital every day. This was true beforecare, says Trafton.data to manage programs, she says. the pandemic hit, but the COVID-19 crisisPopulation health management is notHealthcare leaders need to develop the really brought it to the surface.generally taught in medical school or gradu- ability to understand different audiences, Todays workforce, already more dis- ate business programs, so it is incumbent onfacilitate collaboration and communica-persed before COVID-19, continues to bethe healthcare system to develop both thetion between disparate groups, and effec-more distributed. Given this reality, health- big-picture and detailed skills required fortively handle conflict and have difficult care leaders must be effective in their com- success, she says, from developing a clin- conversations.nwww.elitecme.com |2020| EDUCATION GUIDE 23'