Meet MHA @ GW Program Director Leonard Friedman: Part I of III
Read the second part here .
What led you to become a professor at the School of Public Health and Health Services (SPHHS) and director of the masters program in administration health (MHA) George Washington University?
Although GW is only the second university full-time job I've ever held - the first being at Oregon State University where I spent 16 years - the answer is really to have an impact on the way health care is delivered. As an academic, as the director of a health management program, I can create an environment that enables truly talented students - whether early years that are just starting in the management of health care or executive students - to go ahead and try to make the best health care. The long and the short of it is that there is a multiplier effect to have this job that is unlike almost anything else. That's what I like about it and what really attracted to higher education. It is about creating a lasting legacy. This heritage is not for me, but all the students that I went to the privilege of working with over the years and will continue to work in the coming years.
How MHA @ GW differ from other health administration programs? Why an online program as executive MHA an excellent choice for healthcare professionals looking to advance their education?
There are a couple of different variations on the degree. The first is the degree that we and many other programs offer, which is actually a residential level. It is designed for full-time students studying in their universities. In our case it is two years full-time and an administrative residence of one year. One of the things we know is that there are a lot of students who are currently working in the health care space that have made a commitment in this area. They can not drop what they are doing and come to us for two years regardless of the quality of our degree is - so what we've done is create this hybrid model for our Executive Master of online administration the health. The combination of both online education and four immersions in person constituting the MHA @ GW program will help adults working full-time in the health care field to graduate in a way that respects their time and their commitment in the field. If the number of applications we have already achieved means something, this format seems to resonate with our particular audience.
How have you ensured that MHA @ GW corresponds to the rigors of the program on campus?
We have a program focused on skills, and this is an important distinction that MHA @ GW realized and other CAHME accredited graduate programs over the years. The skills of our program on campus as well as our program line executive so we can say to a student, "these are the things you'll be able to do it at the end of your program." The difference will be that we expect a higher level of performance of our students of the executive program, largely because the minimum qualifications for our students @ GW MHA is three years in the healthcare space. But overall skills align. The other element that makes them somewhat similar programs is that the faculty is the same. We depend on our full-time faculty on campus to take the lead in designing modules for our executive MHA degree. We will also allow the executive students to share the same network of alumni and student associations themselves. Our goal is to create a shared learning community that consists of our residential and executive students.
What are some of the most pressing business problems healthcare organizations face today?
One of the main things that health care administrators are faced with the changing landscape that is caused by the reform of health care. And the Affordable Care Act (ACA) - then it is certainly an important and complex piece of politics - not talking to implementation and how health care organizations will be affected by the ACA . One of the things we know is that health care organizations and reimbursement to them for direct patient care will decrease. So, the old adage of learning to do more with less and do better is not a sustainable strategy. managers of healthcare need to fundamentally rethink the business model and find really creative outside-the-box initiatives
Another issue will be around labor and multiple generations of workers in the same health care organization. - All of which have slightly different requirements, work styles and communication styles - and really be able to effectively motivate these multiple generations. Finally, we have this whole idea of the quality of health care and maintenance of really excellent delivery of health care. One thing that makes this an important consideration is the number of errors - involuntary medical errors -. Which continue to occur in our organizations
Nobody is ready to be the recipient of just average health care. We should expect consistently excellent health care.
Thus, while the leader of healthcare will probably never touch a patient, their job is to create and maintain systems that enable practitioners to do their best work and offer uniformly exceptional care.
There are people who say that electronic health records (EHRs) are just another piece to this puzzle we face. As we think about medical sciences and computer decision, how can we use effectively to do our job better? We need to go beyond what is commonly called "meaningful use" and really think about how we can effectively use our IT to provide exceptional care and make doctors better at what they do. This really is a team activity, and we all need to understand how we will work with the other in multidisciplinary teams.
Who is the ideal candidate MHA?
We have our set of specifications for the people who we want in the program. At a minimum, we want someone who has spent three years working full-time in the health sector. It could be a clinician; it could be someone who is already in administration, but has no control behind their name; it could be someone who is being treated for a primary role of the administrator; then it could be that the person works full time in the field right now. This is not a degree for people who start their careers in health care; this is not a program for those who think they may want to move in the management of health care. It is really for someone who has already committed to this discipline. So the ideal person is someone who has these particular pieces, but also has the desire and the will to move into roles of middle management and leadership. This is a program that is set up for people who want to make a tangible difference in health care and in the delivery of health care. We believe that by preparing people with the skills and talent for management and leadership that will have a significant impact on the way health care is delivered across the board.
health administrators Why should aspiring consider an advanced degree?
We know that people who want to move into middle and senior managers in the health care delivery organizations require a master's degree. A master's degree is the desired academic preparation. Some people have doctorates. Very, very few people have a degree of only a bachelor's degree. The question is:?. "Why MHA" And not only an MBA or something and the reason for this, at least in my opinion, is that if an MBA will provide someone with a set of tools that are interesting and important in business, the MHA will give someone specific training in the discipline they need in health care. they will acquire the business skills they need, but only in the context of organizations health care, not manufacturing or other business of the company. We believe that the context of health care is significantly different than most other companies.
what paragraphs of health administration made your own research target
for as long as I am in academia - since September 1992 - I am particularly interested in the theme of organizational change and change management in health care. So for me, it is about the relationships between and among all the people in health care - clinicians, doctors, nurses, therapists, technicians, administrators, groups of payers and providers - all of which, to some way, shape or form, in contact with the patient. So what is the real interest for me is to think and consider how it is that people can better link between them and the way we manage the change in these incredibly complex organizations. If people do not work well together - if they are not working at their optimum - patient care and ultimately affected, and the quality of care is reduced. So I'm really concerned about how we can help people work better together. If we are not focusing on people, then we are really missing the boat.
What should we know about you?
Give me an excuse to get on the golf course and I'm good with that! You know, "have golf clubs, will travel." So much fun. My wife and I had a great time being grandparents; we have a little son of six months. I am the father of two girls and the father of three outstanding young men. And I love pugs! I'm a dog person. I have a great wife. I love traveling and have a passion for contemporary jazz
On a more professional note -. And I think my students will tell you this - I'm incredibly passionate about this work. And for me, someone who at one point in my life thought and applied to medical school when I was an undergraduate student, my passion is teaching. It is about education. I just want to make this industry better than when I'm in it.
Maybe we should not be looking for those great paradigm shifts. Maybe we need to address make better health care person at a time
My friend Quint Studer is about people as firelighters. Everyone has a little spark, and that spark can be used to start a fire that leads people to do things in a way that is very useful. He talks about the concept of a health care wheel: the purpose, useful work and make a difference. And I think that fundamental for everyone in health care. That's why health care is different.
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