Post 14: Final Reflection

Welcome to my last blog post! As I am wrapping up this semester in Managing Healthcare Organizations, I decided it would be fitting to write my last post on some of the most valuable things I have learned in this class.

One of the most valuable portions of this class were the guest speakers. Having guest speakers was not only a good opportunity for networking, but they taught me a lot about what goes on in the “real world.” They all work in different areas of healthcare and showed me how many opportunities there are for me to go into when I graduate. I learned so much about the different areas it takes to run a healthcare organization and why they are all crucial to keeping the organization afloat.

Another one of the most valuable things I learned from this class (which I talked about in my last post) was being able to grow as a participant in group projects and develop my ability to work effectively with other people that have varying opinions. This is a skill I will continue to develop throughout my college years and my career, and will be something I will use for the rest of my life.

I also learned a lot about the healthcare industry itself, and what it takes to be a successful leader overall. Here are some the key things I have taken away when learning what it takes to be a successful leader:

1.     Don’t be carpet administrator. Professor Bonica spoke to us about this concept at the beginning of the course and it has really stuck with me because I think it is a really important thing to remember. Being in a healthcare organization especially, it is important to make sure that you are always engaging with your employees and making them feel like you are approachable and care about what is going on in the organization on a daily basis.

2.     Healthcare in a team sport. The relationships you have with the people you work with are incredibly important and you will never get anything done if you try and do it completely on your own.

3.     The only thing constant about healthcare is that it will change. Being a leader in healthcare means that you need to be able to adapt to whatever changes are thrown your way, because there will be a lot.

4.     Always remember to look at the bigger picture. It can be easy to become overwhelmed with the everyday stresses that one faces at work, but it is important to always remember at the end of the day why you are doing what you are doing. Working in healthcare is incredibly rewarding and it is crucial to remind yourself how the work you are doing is helping people. When you feel passionate about the work you are doing, your employees will feed that, and it will create a better atmosphere in your organization.

I will carry all of these lessons with me as I move on in my career in healthcare.

Last but not least, I want to thank the people that took the time to read my blogs throughout the semester. Your comments have been greatly appreciated and your suggested articles and websites have been incredibly insightful. Thank you for taking the time to read what I have written and providing such thoughtful feedback.