Message From Your Chair
By Carrie Owen Plietz, FACHE
Hello, and welcome to the 2021 Congress on Healthcare Leadership. It’s been a great first day—and there is so much more in store this week!
Though this year has been very different in so many ways, one thing has not changed—ACHE’s commitment to lifelong learning and the mission of strengthening the leadership skills of its members. Throughout the year, we’ve been striving to ensure you had relevant and innovative education, best practices to address the pandemic and many other resources at your fingertips. And, of course, it’s you—the healthcare leaders at the heart of our mission—who have stepped up. Not only have you demonstrated incredible determination in caring for your patients and communities, but you’ve come together through ACHE and supported one another through these unforeseen challenges.
This spirit of innovation and community continues this week with an outstanding line-up of sessions, networking and career opportunities. I hope you’ll take advantage of all this Congress has to offer, and share your insights and questions with your colleagues on the Congress Connect board and the many chats throughout the platform.
I am honored to serve as the 2021 Chair of the ACHE Board of Governors. As many may know, I decided very early on that I wanted to have a role in health services administration. And, as long as I’ve pursued my goals in this field, ACHE has been a constant in my career. I joined as a Student Associate, and as I’ve progressed from a young professional to a senior executive leading 80,000 employees, my ACHE community has always been a trusted resource and sounding board.
This re-imagined virtual event is another huge step in our journey together, and I thank you for joining us.
Enjoy your week, and be well.
Sincerely,
Carrie Owen Plietz, FACHE
Carrie Owen Plietz is Chair of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and regional president, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland.
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Reflections on the Past Year
By Michael J. Fosina, FACHE
To be recognized by peers is an honor; to be asked to take on a position of leadership is humbling. I felt both emotions strongly in 2019, when I was elected as your Chair.
2020 will be remembered, not fondly, as one for the history books: global pandemic, civil unrest, riots, financial recession and epic weather-related disasters.
But 2020 also drove home the idea that whatever the threat, hospitals, physicians and healthcare workers are a key component of America’s infrastructure. We are a trusted community resource, a place to go in times of need, whether for shelter, food or healthcare. We stand by, always ready to help the individuals, families and communities we serve.
And throughout 2020, ACHE was a source of leadership, a conduit for vital information and a means of connection for members adjusting to a changed healthcare landscape.
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Stokes Receives Gold Medal Award
Charles D. Stokes, FACHE, founding partner of Relia Healthcare Advisors in Houston and ACHE’s 2017–2018 Chairman, was honored today as the recipient of the Gold Medal Award.
The Gold Medal Award, ACHE’s highest honor, is bestowed on outstanding leaders who have made significant contributions to the healthcare field throughout their service career. The purpose of the award is to identify ACHE Fellows who best exemplify leadership at the organizational, local/state/provincial and national levels.
In his acceptance speech, Stokes said he is honored to be selected as the ACHE Gold Medal recipient and to be included with previous winners, many of whom he knows personally, “is beyond my wildest expectations.”
The following is an edited excerpt from Stokes’ acceptance speech:
No one receives this recognition exclusively as a result of individual effort but as a result of the support of family, friends, educators, coaches and mentors. That is certainly my story, and no one has been more supportive of my career than my beautiful and wonderful wife, Judy, who has raised our three boys. Thank you, honey. I love you deeply.
Over the years, I have been asked about what I believe to be the most relevant aspects of leadership. In today’s environment, I think the following four attributes are absolutely essential for all leaders:
- Commit to zero patient workforce harm. This is important because death by medical error was reported to be the third leading cause of death in the United States before COVID-19. It is a moral and ethical imperative to address this, as it's not only the patients who are being harmed but also the medical staff and workforce. One of the best ways to prevent harm is to create an environment where the workforce feels comfortable in speaking up when they see unsafe practices. We call that a “Just Culture.”
- Prioritize a culture of employee and physician engagement. In 2019, a Gallup Poll stated that only 37% of the workforce was actively engaged in their work, and that is a scary thought. People come to us at the most vulnerable time of their lives, and it is frightening that they may be entrusting their care to someone who is not completely engaged in their well-being. We had an engagement issue before the pandemic and now, after months of dealing with a staggering volume of sick and dying patients, it is much worse. Leaders must start now to rebuild trust and engagement with their medical staff and workforce.
- Courageous leadership. Courageous leaders must confront their boards and say, “it is no longer about getting back to the status quo, we must implement transformational change.” We must redesign our care models to improve access, reduce costs, be more consumer-centric and financially sustainable on much less reimbursement. We must lead the way to use the improvements in technology and technique that will drastically improve how and where care is provided.
- Intentional commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Our past focus on diversity has been: “Does your workforce mirror your community?” This is woefully inadequate. I recently found a relevant quote that said, “Diversity is having a seat at the table, inclusion is having a voice at the table and belonging is having that voice heard.” To redesign healthcare, I advise you to listen to the voices of those front-line employees who are actually doing the work. And, if your governance, executive leadership, managers and workforce are not diverse, and your conversations are not inclusive of their thoughts, you are never going to discover the best solutions to the thorny problems that are challenging our industry.
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New Regents Elected, Outgoing Regents Honored
Fifteen healthcare executives have been elected to serve three-year terms as Regents, and two have been appointed to serve as Regents-at-Large for ACHE. The Regents took office March 11 at the Council of Regents Meeting preceding ACHE’s 64th Congress on Healthcare Leadership. In addition, two Regents were appointed to represent members on an interim basis in Alaska and Illinois—Central & Southern.
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Upcoming
Journalist Walter to Give MacEachern Memorial Address
The Cook Political Report’s Amy Walter presents “Political Outlook 2021” at Tuesday’s Malcolm T. MacEachern Memorial Address (11:15–11:55 a.m.).
The politics of healthcare is every bit as complex as the policy of healthcare. With the changes anticipated after the 2020 election, it is crucial for leaders to be vigilantly aware of the current and proposed changes that will affect their organizations, staff, patients and communities.
Amy Walter, national editor, The Cook Political Report, and host of “The Takeaway,” brings expertise on a range of topics. She will not only discuss the politics of policy but also Washington’s dysfunction and the people and strategy behind why things are happening the way they are in Congress and the White House.
Add to your agenda. Please be sure to complete the session evaluation available in the virtual platform.
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2019 and 2020 New Fellows to Be Honored at Convocation
Tomorrow, please join the 87th Convocation Ceremony, which honors ACHE members who have earned their board certification in healthcare management in 2019 and 2020 for their professional commitment to leadership excellence.
The event will take place 12:10–12:50 p.m. All Congress participants are invited to attend and celebrate our new Fellows. More than 700 new Fellows will be recognized who became a Fellow in 2019 and 2020.
As a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the new Fellows will pledge to:
- Abide by its Code of Ethics.
- Contribute to the advancement of our profession by exemplifying competence and leadership in healthcare management.
- Commit to lifelong learning by maintaining a personal program of continuing education.
- Contribute to the improvement of my community’s health status.
- Enhance our profession through leadership in a wide range of community and professional activities.
- Uphold and further the mission of the American College of Healthcare Executives to advance its members and healthcare leadership excellence.
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