Pandemic Challenges and Healthcare Transformation: Insights from our Leaders
By: Stephen Hockey
July 31, 2020
Healthcare is an ever-evolving industry and mounting public health demands are driving a prominent transformation of the health-care system. Amidst the rising COVID-19 contagion, I spoke to various leaders and field experts in healthcare to know their perspectives for advancing the industry to meet the challenges posed by such pandemics. This Is the first of a series of three articles on leadership In the current climate.
Similar to the challenges arising in other nations during the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare in Australia is also facing rising demands of skilled workforce, team leaders, technology graduates, digitisation experts, and a holistic approach for transforming patient experience on both physical and mental levels. According to Elizabeth Koff, Secretary, NSW Health, health care leaders are required to make purposeful policies to create and sustain the “new normal” for ensuring the stability of changes that are being instilled in the system to meet current public health needs. Annette Solman, Chief Executive, Health Education & Training institute further stressed on the need for training the staff with experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for sustaining the change.
Cris Massis, CEO, Advent Health and Carol Turnbull, CEO Adelaide Clinic, Ramsay Healthcare focused on agility and responsiveness to the needs of consumers and to hire and retain the best clinical and management talent. Further, Chris McGowan, CEO, SA Health Services feels that effective team management and cross-functionality of teams for obtaining health care goals of top priority are required. Constraints on health care funding are expected to reduce the hospital stays and telecare or homecare will gain popularity, as pointed out by Toby Hall, Group CEO of St Vincent’s Healthcare.
Interestingly, Dr Ged Foley, CEO Sonic Clinical Services stated that there is a need to address the concerns about staff safety, consumer/patient confidence and security of revenue streams. Ben Edwards, CEO Murdoch & GM Mid-West Region, St John of God, highlighted that backlog of people requiring elective surgeries or urgent treatment will pressurize the system further, as patients are avoiding hospital visits during the pandemic. Mental health support will also be required as the pandemic runs its course. Further, Sean Smith, CEO, Mackay Rehab Hospital, Healthecare added on the need for mental health support to nurture the health professionals. An anonymous leader rightfully said that reduced funding leading to discouragement in innovation is also a significant challenge for the sector as a whole.
Collectively, our leaders gave a clear message that massive challenges lie ahead and a bold transformation on managerial and technological fronts is needed for an adaptable and sustainable healthcare system.
I am extremely thankful for all the leaders who contributed to this piece, their time and interest in contributing their views to our readers and I hope their insights will be beneficial for our aspiring healthcare leaders.