Why Silos are not the Real Problem: Using Warm Hand-offs

As healthcare and higher education institutions face nearly unprecedented turnover and reduced employee engagement, organizations are forced to look at ways to change the situation. Cross training is an exercise that organizations readily think of, because managements almost all over the world believe that the more employees understand what their colleagues’ work entails, they are more likely to show interest in it.

The fact that cross training also equips the organization with a battle-ready workforce that can be readily deployed in any situation lends further credence to this thinking. This entails having to break down the silos of specialization and bring in diverse or multispecialty teams.

This is where the problem arises: contrary to managements’ assumptions, cross training is not necessarily a weapon that helps to defeat inefficiency. Instead, it brings about disenchantment among employees, especially the senior ones, who feel that all their years and years of effort at developing specializations get robbed overnight.

So, what is the approach that organizations in the healthcare service and teaching industry should adapt? They could look at what may be called the "warm hands-off" approach in dealing with turnover and reduced employee engagement.

What is this warm hands-off approach? A sixty-minute webinar from Compliance4All, a leading provider of professional training for all the areas of regulatory compliance, will explain this concept in all its meaning and depth.

In simple terms, this is how the warm hands-off approach works: two members of a healthcare team discuss the transfer of responsibility in the presence of the patient and family. The transparency that this method brings allows patients and families to hear the same conversation at the same time and facilitates greater engagement between the patients and their families in team communication.

When there is openness of this level and kind between the healthcare provider and the patient’s family, the latter can clarify or correct information or ask questions relating to any aspect of their care. When a team member has completed their work, and the work transitions to the ensuing team, division, or department, warm hand-offs can be adapted.

At this webinar, Allecia will explain how, using the warms hands-off approach, participants will be able to:

• Ensure everyone is clear on who is responsible for resolving the matter at hand
• Reconfirm the challenge to be addressed and provide an opportunity for clarification
• Keep the person in need of assistance informed at all times on where they are in the process until the next hand-off
• Support accountability among staff with clearly defined roles

At this webinar, which is of immense value and benefit to Provost or Chancellor, Chief People Officer or Vice President for Human Resources, Vice President or Vice Chancellor for Research, Directors and Managers, Allecia will cover the following areas:

• Background on specialization of administrative functions in healthcare and higher education
• What are the pros and cons of specialization among administrative employees?
• What are the impacts, positive and negative, of having a specialized workforce?
• Which challenges does cross training solve and when do we need an alternative solution?
• What are some creative approaches to solving challenges related to throughput in times of high turnover, extended absences, or job transitions?
• Recap of what we learned in this webinar
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About the expert: With over 25 years in areas relating to process improvement and redesign for the healthcare and higher education industries; Allecia has been offering solutions that streamline workflow, increase revenue opportunities, and ensure sustainable outcomes.

A Certified Research Administrator (CRA); among the main roles Allecia has played in her career involves leading a transformation and change management engagement for research administration at a prestigious cancer center on the west coast and facilitating improvement activities at a health sciences university on the east coast.