Teaching Practice Change Leaders about Leadership and Culture Change to Impact Long-Term Care

Practice Change Leaders and experts in the care of older adults are working together to enhance the care of older adults in all environments.  The class of 2016, during their initial meeting February 24 & 25 in Phoenix, introduced projects incorporating long-term care as a part of new initiatives to enhance care and outcomes

Robert Schreiber, MD of Harvard, Hebrew Senior Life, and I teach a workshop in which participants use the evidence-based 8 Step Framework developed by John Kotter of Harvard to develop a deeper understanding of how to lead and overcome their individual and organizational challenges and barriers to create organizational change.  Through this process they identify mechanisms to facilitate change, garner support, include all stakeholders, and ensure more successful outcomes.

It was exciting to note that a majority of projects in the 2016 class of Practice Change Leaders included long-term care as one of the sites that will play a role in their new initiatives.  Individual projects and initiatives focused on transitional care, ACO’s, palliative care and hospitalization.  Increasing attention is being placed on the role of long-term care as a major player in the health care continuum.

Practice Change Leaders for Aging and Health is a national program designed to develop and support organizational leaders committed to enhancing the care of older adults.  Selected applicants hold a leadership role with decision-making capacity and the direct responsibility for care that impacts older adults.

This conference is one of four national meetings over fifteen months for those participating in the Practice Change Leaders program.  Attended by the Senior Leaders and select national experts in health and health care delivery to older adults, the meetings are founded on the premise that every attendee is both a teacher and a learner. Practice Change Leaders will have the opportunity to receive input on their projects and progress in pursuing their career goals through case-based discussions complemented by group problem-solving activities.

The Practice Change Leaders program is supported by The Atlantic Philanthropies and John A. Hartford Foundation.  It is administered through a National Program Office based in the Division of Health Care Policy and Research at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus under the direction of Eric Coleman and Shelly Nebel.

More can be found about Practice Change Leaders for Aging and Health HERE.