If you are in a health care leadership position and believe in lifelong learning, we recommend you read and complete the healthcare leadership self-assessment tool. This recently updated list of approximately 300 skill and knowledge competencies was assembled by the Healthcare Leadership Alliance, a collaboration of the leading health care professional associations (1), including:
- American College of Healthcare Executives
- American College of Physician Executives
- American Organization of Nurse Executives
- Healthcare Financial Management Association
- Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society
- Medical Group Management Association
The competencies are categorized into five critical domains illustrated in this diagram. These domains and their topical areas are listed below.
1. Communications and Relationship Management
- Relationship management
- Communications skills
- Facilitation skills
2. Leadership
- Leadership skills
- Organizational culture and growth
- Strategic planning and advocacy
3. Professionalism
- Personal and professional ethics
- Professional and community contribution
- Continuing education and lifelong learning
4. Knowledge of the Health Care Environment
- Health care issues and trends
- Health care personnel
- Standards and regulations
5. Business Skills and Knowledge
- Problem solving and decision making
- Systems thinking
- General management
- Financial management
- Human resources
- Organizational dynamics and governance
- Strategic planning and marketing
- Information management
- Risk management
- Quality improvement
Individuals can use the self-assessment tool to identify areas of strength as well as areas for personal development. Organizations can survey their employees to develop training and organizational development activities.
The University of St. Thomas has used this model as the basis for individual leadership in its model for high performance health care. For organizations, the model is built around the Baldrige Health Care Criteria for Performance Excellence.
The educational programs of the Opus College of Business are designed to embrace this model and these national standards. They also inform the research agenda of the Center for Health and Medical Affairs.
Finding time for professional development is always challenging, but it is also stimulating and classroom activities provide extensive networking opportunities. So complete the self-assessment, read a book and take a class. Your career will thank you.
Reference
(1) ACHE Healthcare Executive Competencies Assessment Tool 2009. (Cover Story). Healthcare Executive. November 2008.
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A recent study by Romano and Stafford in the 
