Healthcare leaders today face immense challenges – from reduced employee morale and consequent staffing shortages, to rising patient expectations. For Dr. Jon Belsher, optimized operations and streamlined workflows are part of the key to overcoming these obstacles and achieving sustainable success. With over 20 years leading healthcare organizations, Dr. Belsher has honed a results-driven approach that marries improved care delivery with financial viability.
Defining True Sustainable Success
For Dr. Belsher, sustainable success requires more than cutting costs. At the core is the implementation of solutions that not only yield short-term wins but have the ability to scale in the future. He adds, “It’s important that the product or solution that’s introduced not only has impact today but tomorrow too.”
This emphasis on sustainability permeates Dr. Belsher’s leadership. He continues, “Unlike what some believe, it’s not just about cutting out the fat or bypassing corners as much as possible. It’s more of a surgical approach and optimizing workflows based on the company or organization. In short, one size does not fit all.” Streamlining steps while maintaining quality is paramount. As Dr. Belsher notes, “It’s important to recognize that simplicity often times leads to improved operational efficiency.”
Focusing on the Patient Experience
For Dr. Belsher, one of the keys to sustainable success is an overarching focus on improving the patient journey. As he explains, “The patient experience has become more important than ever in the last 20 years. It’s what I’ve spent much of my career focusing on. It was evident, as the young son of a successful surgeon, that this is what required improvement immediately. Healthcare lagged behind all other industries in terms of consumer or patient experience.”
To improve and ultimately optimize operations, healthcare organizations must pay close attention to metrics that reflect the patient’s viewpoint and perspective. This includes waiting time, in-clinic experience, follow-up care, and health outcomes.
Dr. Belsher notes, “It’s important to remain vigilant about what patients are saying – how clean was the facility, how nice was the staff, how quickly were they in and out, how did they feel overall about the visit, etc.”
Internal metrics are also important to track. As Dr. Belsher points out, “It’s important to continually refine workflows and improve communication efficiencies to make visits faster, and staff more efficient – ultimately leading to happier and healthier patients. There is undoubtedly a correlation between perceived visit characteristics and getting on the path to recovery sooner.”
By being zealous about the patient journey, healthcare leaders can truly transform their organizations for sustainable success.
Defining Problems Before Solutions
According to Dr. Belsher, clearly defining the problems at hand is the best path to designing an efficacious solution. As he cautioned, “When healthcare organizations and companies think about how to ensure their near- and long-term success, it’s about narrowly defining a focus or challenge and trying to design a product or solution that doesn’t inadvertently try to solve all woes and ills. Stay focused on narrow over wide.”
He continues with a word of caution for founders of early-stage medtech and healthtech companies along a similar vein, “I’ve seen a number of founders who aren’t narrow enough with their product or solution or, worse, have a product or solution looking for a problem. This can be really challenging.”
Prioritizing Ethics Over Finances
For Dr. Belsher, ethical, patient-focused products or solutions are the ones what will be rewarded financially in the long run. As he explains, “It raises an immediate red flag if I encounter a vision or solution tied solely to the impact on the P&L or the financial position of a company.”
He continues, “If we’re operating the right way, we’re leveraging solid products and solutions that drive streamlined workflows and improved patient care leading to favorable financial outcomes. The former begets the latter.”
For leaders like Dr. Belsher, sustainable success requires patient-centricity, scalable solutions, and ethical practices. By melding optimized operations with strategic vision, healthcare organizations can overcome today’s challenges and deliver lasting gains both to patients and shareholders.
To learn more about Dr. Jon Belsher and his approach, check out his LinkedIn profile. You can also visit his new venture, Visura.
