What do you do if you want to leverage your strategic thinking skills in healthcare career paths?

Healthcare has traditionally been a slow moving field and we haven't been able to move the needle much, even with digital healthcare and health tech. That said, Covid sped things up and being strategic is key. Looking at how AI will play out, but knowing we aren't there yet in a large capacity needs to be a part of the strategic plan. If you're looking for a job in healthcare and you can see the big picture and the little details, looking at analytics and managing operations is a key factor that we need more of in healthcare domain. Only YOU know your skills. It starts there

I actually thing, slowly healthcare is catching up. A doctors simply cannot just focus on the medicine, you will need to learn and understand how the various aspects impact patient's lives. For example, there is so many talking about AI because of chatGPT. But so often, people are not talking about it's pitfalls. Yes, it can be amazing with it diagnosing patients and passing the USMLE. But why does it hallucinate? Why does it insist it is right, even when it is told it is wrong? Sadly, as we delve more into the age of AI, more individuals in various fields need to learn more about IT and IS, seeing how it integrates with their fields rather than purely focusing on their own field

Regardless of your role, it’s always important to assess your skills to not only understand what opportunities you have for improvement and growth, but also to recognize how far you’ve come in your career journey. To better leverage strategic thinking skills in healthcare careers paths, you can look at the skills you have in your current role, whether healthcare or clinical focused, or not, and see what may translate. It will help to talk to others who know you well about your career aspirations and see what they think. It will also be good for you to write down some of the skills you use, or compare what skills are listed on a healthcare career that you match. Of course, many clinical roles require formal degrees and training!

If you aim to utilize your strategic thinking skills in healthcare career paths, start by seeking opportunities that allow you to analyze complex problems and devise innovative solutions. Look for roles in healthcare management, policy development, or healthcare consulting where strategic planning is essential. Continuously enhance your knowledge of the healthcare industry and stay updated on emerging trends to inform your strategic decisions. Network with professionals in the field to explore potential career avenues aligned with your strategic thinking abilities. By leveraging your strengths, you can make a meaningful impact on healthcare delivery and management.

Before leveraging your strategic thinking skills in healthcare career paths, it's essential to assess your current skill set. This involves identifying your strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement related to strategic thinking and decision-making within the healthcare industry. For example, when I wanted to assess my strategic thinking skills in healthcare, I reflected on past projects where I had to make important decisions. I evaluated how I approached problems, analyzed data, and collaborated with others to achieve goals. This self-assessment helped me understand my strengths in critical thinking and areas where I needed more development, such as long-term planning or risk assessment.

Seeking a wide variety of mentors with varying perspectives demonstrates strategic thinking in healthcare career paths as you can learn from both the mistakes and successes from others you want to emulate or you admire. It’s important to remember that sometimes success is a mix of preparation plus unique opportunity (right time, right place) but the preparedness mindset was still in place for many folks who others want to mentor them due to healthcare career success. Additionally, acknowledge that a mentor/mentees relationship is two-way, and that you have valuable perspectives to provide as well as a newer healthcare professional leading and greeting in your career in a time different than some who may be mentoring you.

Define Your Goals: Before seeking a mentor, clarify your career goals and identify areas where you need guidance and support. Research Potential Mentors and start growing your network: Look for mentors who have expertise and experience relevant to your career goals and interests. This could include professionals working in your desired field (even friends or peers), leaders in healthcare organizations, or experts in specific areas of healthcare. Be Open and Flexible: Be open to learning from mentors who may have different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences than your own. Seek Feedback and Act on Advice and show Gratitude and Stay Connected.

Another effective strategy for leveraging your strategic thinking skills in healthcare career paths is to seek mentors. Mentors can provide valuable guidance, share insights, and help you develop your strategic thinking abilities within the context of the healthcare industry. For instance, when I wanted to enhance my strategic thinking in healthcare, I sought out a mentor who was a seasoned healthcare executive. They had a wealth of experience in strategic planning, decision-making, and navigating complex healthcare challenges. Through regular meetings and discussions, my mentor shared real-world examples, challenged my thinking, and provided constructive feedback to help me refine my strategic approach.

Stay Informed: Continuously educate yourself on the latest advancements in healthcare technology, regulations, and patient care practices. Stay updated on industry news, attend conferences, and participate in professional development opportunities.

One powerful way to leverage your strategic thinking skills in healthcare career paths is through continuous learning. This involves actively seeking opportunities to expand your knowledge, stay updated on industry trends, and develop new skills that enhance your strategic thinking abilities. For example, when I wanted to enhance my strategic thinking skills in healthcare, I enrolled in a course on healthcare management and strategy. This course provided me with insights into healthcare trends, strategic planning methodologies, and case studies that helped me apply strategic thinking in real-world scenarios.

Another crucial step to leverage your strategic thinking skills in healthcare career paths is to gain relevant experience. This involves actively seeking opportunities to apply your strategic thinking abilities in real-world healthcare settings, whether through internships, projects, or job roles that allow you to make strategic decisions and solve complex problems. For instance, during my early career in healthcare administration, I volunteered to lead a strategic planning project for improving patient satisfaction. This experience allowed me to analyze data, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and implement strategic initiatives that positively impacted patient care outcomes.

Some people say “your net worth is only as good as your network”. In healthcare, this rings true, although there is a high level of clinical and experiential know-how involved as well. When you use your strategic thinking skills in healthcare career paths, you will find that networking widely will help you not only form relevant connections that can help you learn in your current role, but also open doors for future roles Learning about what others do or feel through networking can also better help you collect data to better form your own informed perspective and understand what unique input you can contribute to an organization or industry.

Healthcare needs more innovation. Plain and simple. For years what we've done is the same as we've always done and we haven't gone and fixed it. Technology, AI, pay for performance, all of it needs to be considered as well as the lack of resources in nursing. How can we innovate. How can we make patient experience better? How can we support overworked clinicians? Never underestimate true out of the box thinking. We need more of it in a stagnant field. Take initiative and see a problem area and suggest ideas. Without suggestions we have nothing

One way to contribute is to engage with Stakeholders: Engage with patients, healthcare providers, payers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to gather feedback, align priorities, address concerns, and co-create solutions that meet diverse needs and requirements or address the gaps within specific sector of healthcare.

Many people don't start out passionate about healthcare. For me, it's been a journey starting on insurance side, moving to payor solutions, EHR/EMR for many years and medical device as well. There are many possibilities to use a vast and wide range of skill sets. Many have been focused on tech and SaaS while forgetting that healthcare provides a fantastic opportunity to grow your skill set working in a field that changes lives