As Baby Boomers continue to age, the demand for healthcare professionals in many different fields will continue to grow. And with these opportunities comes the need for properly trained professionals who have the right skills set, from nurses and pharmacists to CEOs.
“There will be numerous career opportunities in 2007, especially in areas where we are seeing shortages, such as nursing, radiology, and pharmacy,” said J. Don Haney, principal and senior partner of Haney/Lowderman, which provides career transition services to healthcare executives. “There are always opportunities at the senior executive level, whether its a CEO moving into another CEO role at a different facility, or a COO moving into a CEO position.”
“Individuals in acute healthcare administration are now finding more positions outside traditional hospitals, including in rehabilitation hospitals and LTAC (long-term acute care) facilities,” added Haney/Lowderman principal, Bill Lowderman. “Were also seeing a real proliferation of jobs for consultants in interim or turnaround management companiesnot just for the CEO, COO and CFO, but in emergency, surgery, and other departments as well.”
According to Haney and Lowderman, while there may be a proliferation of healthcare jobs available, candidates are undergoing a more thorough selection process than ever before. “Especially in upper level positions, employers are relying less on chemistry during the interview, and are spending more time scrutinizing potential employees track records and references,” said Lowderman. “They are using behavioral-based interviewing (BBI) related to the issues, projects and challenges the management position requires based on the belief that the best indicator of an applicant’s future performance is his or her past performance.” Behavioral-based interviewing is also a way of discovering an applicant’s values, temperament, decision-making processes, conflict resolution style and personality.
“Employers who use to consider three candidates for a position now often look at six,” added Haney. “They also conduct more thorough reference checking and even second-generation reference checking, so candidates really need to have their acts together.”
In order to help healthcare executives succeed in their employment quest, Haney/Lowderman, formerly known as Haney & Associates, provides comprehensive career transition services, which include outplacement training techniques designed to help executives minimize mistakes during the job search. Two- to three-day workshops help individuals learn how to build a powerful resume, prepare for interviews, manage references and learn to network. “We believe that its not what you know or who you know, but who knows what you know that determines future career success,” said Lowderman.
With more than 45-plus years of experience between them, Haney and Lowderman understand what skills employers require. “A candidate must have strong leadership skills, as well as strong technology skills and financial skills,” said Haney. “Even non IT-mangers must be more technologically savvy. And if a candidate doesnt have a thorough understanding of the financial aspects of their organization, they are at a definite disadvantage.”
“Executives must have the ability to improve clinical quality ratings and customer service ratings,” added Lowderman, who says that with more of this data available on the Internet, customers who are making the purchasing decision are increasingly focusing on these statistics. “The federal government and customers who are making healthcare decisions are looking for increased transparency in quality and in pricing.”
Being able to work with a myriad of people is also an important skill. “An executives physician-relationship skills must be outstanding,” said Lowderman. “Physicians expect a hospital administrator to be attentive, responsive and honest. And anyone who takes this position needs to realize what a complex relationship it isa physician can be a hospitals competitor, partner, collaborator, customer, and employee, all at the same time.”
“Physicians have more power now than ever before,” added Haney. “They can develop outpatient projects on their own, and there is also a trend toward more physician equity positions. To succeed as an executive requires political astuteness and savvynot only in physician relationships, but with the hospital board, medical staff, employees, consumers and the community.”
Though jobs in healthcare can be extremely rigorous, finding the right position can make it all worthwhile. “Hospital management is one of the most labor-intensive jobs in the world, and one of the most difficult industries for management due to multiple constituencies and the political skills required,” said Lowderman. “Still, for people who relish a challenge, healthcare remains an exciting and dynamic field.”
