Management in Motion - Exploring synergies between hospital management and elite-level sports teams
Canon Medical Systems Corporation
Meaningful Innovation. Made Possible.
By Professor Fiona Gilbert, Director of Research in Radiology – 英国剑桥大学 School of Clinical Medicine
Hospital management involves negotiating many challenges in daily operations, from rising imaging costs and financial pressures to staff shortages and physician burnout. However, there are many lessons that can be learned from the world of elite sports, such as rugby. To be successful, rugby teams must also overcome obstacles, and as in healthcare rugby teams embrace core values of integrity, solidarity, tenacity, passion and discipline.?
Recently, I participated in a Canon Medical Systems Corporation virtual round table, titled “Management in Motion”, which explored the parallels between healthcare management and elite sports, while celebrating the spirit of the Rugby World Cup, France 2023. Together with Sir Clive Woodward , world-renowned elite sports Coach and Leader, having led England to Rugby World Cup victory in 2003 and Team GB (Great Britain) to their most successful Olympic Games in 2012, we explored how values, leadership, teamwork, and technology can enhance performance and delivery of goals.
Bringing values to life through “Teamship”
During the webinar, Sir Clive emphasized the importance of values, and more importantly how we demonstrate those values in our daily actions that really make a difference. He spoke about the importance of bringing diverse teams together and introduced the concept of “Teamship” in which the team is given the task of agreeing to rules about how they will work effectively together. Often the leader is not present and the team agrees to a set of principles which are then presented to the leader who can agree to or challenge these rules. One example he gave was “Lombardy time” where the team agreed that they would be 10 minutes early for every meeting otherwise it would be deemed they were late. This bonding of ideas and principles by which the team would strive together was very effective. Sir Clive admitted he was a stickler for time and this rule meant the team was willing to respect him as the leader. Sir Clive cites the England rugby teams’ Teamship book, which contains over 250 Teamship rules and provides one of the best examples he has seen of a tool that can help create a deep bonding of aims and values.
Considering its applicability to healthcare, this concept could be valuable within the field of radiology. There is already a deeply held commitment to delivering the highest quality healthcare moreover, upholding ethical and professional standards, but sometimes the teams could be strengthened to work more efficiently together. Teamwork fosters collaboration, encourages ongoing enhancements and adoption of new techniques, and strengthens effective leadership.
In healthcare, especially in a specialized field like radiology, collaborative decision-making is crucial. Radiologists work closely with other healthcare professionals, including referring physicians, radiographers, nurses, and technologists. The concept of Teamship, where team members collectively agree to set rules and standards, aligns with the need for effective communication and collaboration among healthcare professionals. In radiology, while this can involve creating and following protocols for image acquisition, interpretation and reporting there is a greater need for respectful behaviour to one another, recognizing the impact of oneself on others, and the need to actively encourage, praise and emulate good behaviours in the workplace. Too often individuals are independent and insular, instead of recognising the value of delivering the radiology service as part of a team pulling together to ensure the best outcomes for patients. Regular, frequent interactions with colleagues to identify better ways of working, discuss issues, or support one another is invaluable and an important part of the working day. Time spent on this pays dividends. Involving more junior colleagues and trainees is essential to build the next generation in a multidisciplinary department.
The ultimate goal in healthcare is to provide the best care for patients. Involving all team members in setting rules and standards, ensures that decisions are owned by the group and made with the best interests of the patient in mind. Radiologists play a pivotal role in diagnosing and monitoring various medical conditions, so having a shared understanding of how to provide patient-centered care is essential.
The concept of having rules agreed upon by all team members and vetted by a leader can promote a culture of continuous improvement in healthcare. In radiology, staying updated with the latest technologies and practices is essential for accurate diagnoses and patient safety. Involving all team members in the decision-making process, encourages the identification of areas for improvement and the implementation of best practices. But more importantly, it ensures that all voices are heard and valued in the working day, leading to a happier, more satisfied workforce. This is one of the key aspects of tackling burnout. The ability to deliver a degree of autonomy, a sense of belonging and the feeling that an individuals contribution is valued and appreciated is of paramount importance within the team.?
The role of the leader in this concept is also significant. In the context of healthcare, leaders, including professors in academic institutions like Cambridge University, have a responsibility to ensure that the rules and standards set by the team align with professional standards and ethical principles. They also play a crucial role in supporting and mentoring team members, holding them accountable, and challenging rules when necessary to maintain high-quality patient care.
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Key Takeaways:
Reflecting on this past Rugby World Cup, much like in the sport of rugby, our success in the field of radiology hinges on the effective contribution of individuals with unique skills and expertise. Like elite sportsmen, radiologists work hard to be at the top of their game. Collaboration and seamless teamwork are imperative in our domain, as they are essential for delivering timely, precise diagnoses and ensuring effective patient care. By creating an environment that fosters multi-disciplinary collaboration and open communication, we can nurture high-performing teams capable of addressing intricate healthcare challenges head-on.
This year’s World Cup demonstrated just how determined and resilient rugby players and teams are when faced with adversity. Their steadfast commitment to tackling challenges with unwavering tenacity is a valuable lesson from which we can all draw inspiration. In healthcare, we often encounter formidable situations and just as rugby players adapt their strategies in response to the ever-evolving dynamics of the game, we must also embrace innovation and technological advances in diagnostic healthcare.
If we embrace these valuable lessons of communication and “Teamship” and apply them to our healthcare ecosystem we can help address the challenges posed by staff shortages, cultivate high-performing teams, and safeguard the well-being of our healthcare professionals.
About the author
Director of Research in Radiology – University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine.
Honorary Consultant Radiologist – Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge. University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Specialty:?Breast and Oncology Imaging and Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
Professor Gilbert was appointed to the Chair of Radiology, Head of Department in Cambridge in 2011 – 2023 having previously been the chair of the Aberdeen Biomedical Imaging Centre at the University of Aberdeen, UK.
She has held various positions – Chair of the Academic Committee of the Royal College of Radiologists, Chair of the NCRI Imaging Advisory Group, Chair of The Royal College of Radiologists Breast Group, and co-chair of the NCRI PET Research Development Group. She is past President of the European Society of Breast Imaging and past chair of the breast subcommittee of Radiological Society of North America. She now sits on the research & and development committee of RSNA.
She was an NIHR Senior Investigator and was awarded honorary fellowships from the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) , the American College of Radiology , the Gold medal from the European Society of Radiology and a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and Academy of Medical Sciences .
Her research interests are in imaging technology evaluation – covering early cancer detection, diagnostic accuracy in CT and MRI, and newer breast imaging techniques such as breast Tomosynthesis, Contrast mammography, abbreviated MRI, whole breast ultrasound and non FDG radiotracers in cancer. She uses imaging to gain a better understanding of disease physiology and the tumor microenvironment. She advocates risk-adapted breast screening for women and is currently testing risk-stratified approaches through the MyPEBS trial and leading the BRAID trial of supplemental imaging. She is using Artificial intelligence to improve early cancer detection with different imaging modalities.