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In a post COVID-19 world, businesses have had to shift their approaches to resolve new and old concerns and meet the needs of both customers and employees.
As the largest private employer in Miami-Dade County, Baptist Health South Florida turned to FIU Business Executive Education to deliver its Baptist Health Leadership Experience Program, exploring some of the most pressing and complex issues facing the healthcare industry.
"Given the current challenges within the healthcare industry, our aim was to partner with FIU to challenge our leaders, find solutions to everyday problems and enhance their abilities to lead effectively in a post-pandemic world," said Tatiana Schrader, director, talent management and development at Baptist Health.
From the "great resignation" to critical topics including digital transformation, innovative leadership, strategic planning, health inequities and financial management for healthcare organizations, no stone was left unturned during the eight-month program that ended in early 2023.
"Leadership development opportunities, such as this program, provide big-picture context about our industry and its challenges."
- Ana Lopez-Blazquez
"Leadership development opportunities, such as this program, provide big-picture context about our industry and its challenges," said Ana Lopez-Blazquez, chief strategy and transformation officer at the organization.
One session focused on the importance of crisis leadership, proper training in emergency management and awareness of burnout, and the mental health impacts of chronic distress experienced during the pandemic.
"Crisis leadership is about bringing people into an uncertain future with hope and confidence. It requires the ability to anticipate what is likely to come next, despite ambiguity," said Attila Hertelendy, assistant professor of information systems and business analytics at FIU Business and the program's faculty lead.
As participants reflected on what they learned, it became clear the toll of working during the pandemic was felt by many, even those not directly working the front lines.
"I was not working in a clinical role, I was in supplies," said Christine Kicker, director, supply chain management at Baptist Health. "While many worried about getting patients out of the hospital, we had to determine if we could even buy oxygen for our patients."
The room became flooded with emotion as Kicker spoke. The experience was a valuable lesson.
"We now have set ourselves up so that we can pinpoint where our commodities are and know with certainty how many days we have on hand and how many people need it," said Kicker. "We have videos now on our training module system, to show people how to step in and take over."
