Developing leaders is a formidable task in our society, particularly in the current healthcare environment, where leadership development has
become a critical focus for many professions and organizations. The shear volume of change we face every day -- with growing demands for quality, safety, cost effectiveness and value -- makes the need for transformational change of the healthcare system ever more obvious. And transformational change demands exceptionally strong leaders -- who like a river-- flow around the obstacles, challenges and impediments that can slow or stop the progress of transformation. New insights, skills and perspectives will be needed at every leadership level.
Pharmacists as Leaders
Pharmacists are in a unique position to provide strategic and valued leadership organization-wide, with impact on both the blunt and sharp end of patient care. With the growing cost and complexity of medication treatment alternatives, as well as systems of administration and distribution and their effects, pharmacy has evolved to a complex business component with the unique clinical, distributive and administrative potential to materially impact the patient's and the organization's bottom line. At every level, in every role, pharmacists have the opportunity to exert leadership to influence a culture of safety, efficiency/effectiveness and results.
Building leadership skills and knowledge will prepare pharmacy leaders -- at every level of the organization -- to use strategic influence and to serve as advocates for critical issues of safety, quality and value in the services provided and their impact on patients. (Click to hear a Leadership Conversations with ASHP Past President Andy Anderson.)
Beginning in 2003, the National Quality Foundation (NQF) published Safe Practices for Better Healthcare: A Consensus Report, with a 2006 update that incorporated input from other national groups including Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), The Joint Commission (TJC), Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and The Leapfrog Group. Recommendations reflected current evidence, standards and guidelines, supporting literature and guidance for implementation. In 2009, NQF Safe Practices were again updated, and a separate chapter was dedicated to
Medication Management (Recommendations 17 -- Medication Reconciliation -- and 18 -- Pharmacist Leadership Structures and Systems.) Recommendation 18 specifies the active role pharmacy leaders should have on the administrative leadership team, reflecting their authority and accountability for medication management systems performance across the organization, including the full continuum of care. This opportunity to reinforce pharmacists' leadership role
represents a significant platform for changing the role of the pharmacist. Click here to link to a Leadership Conversation with Sharon Murphy Enright.)
Who should use this Primer?
This primer is designed for aspiring and new leaders as well as for seasoned leaders. It provides:
- An introductory (or refresher) overview of key leadership concepts and basics
- Tools for addressing critical leadership issues
- Insights to leadership opportunities for immediate action
