Driving Results Through Interdisciplinary Leadership Skills

Susan Adamek, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE | Director of Education, Dignity Health St. Rose Dominican
Maggie Ozan Rafferty, DHA, RN | Chief Experience Officer, Dignity Health St. Rose Dominican Hospitals

Variance in patient experiences is often a result of inconsistent approaches. A large health system in the southwest has been able to reduce leadership variance and drive employee and patient engagement by implementing interdisciplinary leadership skills simulation. Each leader in the skills lab participated in a very structured personalized coaching session and was provided immediate feedback. Senior leaders served as evaluators which provided them with real time observation of the members of their teams. Patient and Family advisory Board members and current nursing students participated in skills lab roles as patient and employees. By augmenting its traditional classroom education with a hands-on skills lab approach this organization has increased alignment and built leadership confidence while actualizing measurable results