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    Shawntea “Taya” Gordon
    Shawntea “Taya” Gordon, MBA, FACMPE, CMOM

    The Medical Group Management Association’s most recent MGMA Stat poll asked healthcare leaders: “Do you have an onboarding/mentorship program for new providers?” In response, the majority (60%) answered “yes,” while 40% reported “no.” Respondents who answered “yes” were then asked, “What is the program focused on?” In response, 17% answered “organizational culture,” 13% replied “clinical expertise,” 64% stated “both Organizational culture and clinical expertise” and 6% said “other.”

    This poll was conducted on October 22, 2019, with 1,125 applicable responses.

    Not making mentorship an area of focus in a medical practice can create a missed opportunity. Engaging new and seasoned providers in mentorship programs can be a rewarding experience for the mentor, mentee and organization. Structured provider mentorship programs provide guidance, support and feedback at a critical time for new providers.

    The educational process for providers, at all license levels, includes both formal and informal mentorship. Though it may not be evident at first, consider the residency, internship and fellowship processes. Or simply consider the phrase, “watch one, do one” — the latter obviously being informal, but the root message remains one of guidance and support.

    The benefits of provider mentorship

    Mentorship provides a transparent platform to ask questions. New providers, though excited and eager, may be hesitant or apprehensive to tackle their responsibilities. They are suddenly without a chief intern or chief resident; for some, this is the first time they won’t have a mentor. Encouraging the development of strong relationships with mentors provides new providers the opportunity to ask questions, to seek guidance and to improve their skills and confidence.

    This type of relationship and engagement strengthens the ethos of the organization while fostering a continuous culture of improvement. Mentorship isn’t just about “feel good” moments. There are quantifiable benefits (e.g., shorter learning curves for new hires), which increase productivity, and longer periods of provider observation, which can reduce organizational risk. Additionally, mentorship programs provide a strategic method for incorporating future leaders into an organization’s succession plans.

     Key program components

    The most successful mentorship programs are structured to drive accountability for both the mentor and the mentee. Strong mentorship programs include:

    1. An organized method of assigning mentors. Though individual employees may relate better to certain individuals, it’s important to rotate assignments on a regular basis. Consider annual mentor rotation.
    2. Well-defined goals and strategic plans to achieve them (e.g., regular meetings, competency/skill improvements).
    3. A culture of accountability. Define the look-back periods for mentorship programs and include self-assessments, as well as peer assessments for mentors and mentees.

     
    Remember, the goal is to create well-rounded professionals who may become mentors for your organization.

    Starting a mentorship program

    Preparation is required to create a program that drives meaningful change in your organization. Consider using the DMAIC method to manage required changes:

    1. Define — Specific goals of mentorship programs may vary by organization, but the foundational principles are often the same. Outline the preferred outcomes and goals of the program.
    2. Measure — Outline the metrics by which you will gauge success of your newly defined goals. How engaged should mentors be? What is the time commitment required for all parties? What is the knowledge level required to achieve success?
    3. Analyze — Assess your organization to ascertain why this program is needed and why it will be so valuable. Understanding the history and needs behind a program should help drive focus and strategic planning efforts. Research programs at other organizations. Are there common themes? What is working well? What feedback is available on preparation, education or structure?
    4. Improve — Outline, pilot and implement the mentorship program. Document the goals, processes and expectations. Assign responsibilities and drive accountability for mentors and mentees. Consider including participation and genuine engagement as a factor of performance evaluations.
    5. Control — Periodically review to ensure the program is running smoothly. Is the direction of the program still aligned to the original mission and vision of the program? What needs improvement? Are there areas causing pain?

    Prepare the mentors

    Some senior physicians will be natural mentors and others will need refinement. To ensure equitable mentorship across the program, prepare your mentors. (“How doctors can be better mentors” from Harvard Business Review offers advice for mentors to be available, to understand their role and to be objective, among other suggestions).
    Most professionals are not inherently proficient at mentorship, so you will want to provide them with the resources and support to succeed.

    Don’t reinvent the wheel

    There are many resources for tried and true programs, such as books, TED Talk videos and more, which all discuss successful mentorship models. Specifically:

    Use the methods above and perform your own research as well. Mentorship programs are worth the effort and successful implementation is achievable.
     
    Would you like to join our polling panel to voice your opinion on important practice management topics? MGMA Stat is a national poll that addresses practice management issues, the impact of new legislation and related topics. Participation is open to all healthcare leaders. Results of other polls and information on how to participate in MGMA Stat are available at: mgma.com/stat
     

    Shawntea “Taya” Gordon

    Written By

    Shawntea “Taya” Gordon, MBA, FACMPE, CMOM

    Shawntea “Taya” Gordon, CMPE, CMOM, has a BS in healthcare management from Bellevue University, where she graduated summa cum laude. She is a subject matter expert (SME) in healthcare compliance, organizational governance, process optimization and revenue cycle management. She has held senior level executive management positions in private practices, collaborative institutes and national care coordination organizations. Moheiser consults on all areas of healthcare operations including performance improvement, quality improvement, risk reduction and the shift to value-based payment methodologies. She is on MGMA’s Government Affairs Council and recently co-authored Revenue Cycle Management: Don’t Get Lost in the Financial Maze with Kem Tolliver. Moheiser's thoughts on the innovative use of people and IT was included in the HIMSS Voices of Innovation Publication in 2019, coordinated by the Cleveland Clinic. She is also a 2019 Midland’s Business Journal “40 Under 40” Executives & Entrepreneurs Award recipient. Moheiser is the current president-elect for Nebraska HIMSS and currently sits on two workgroups with MGMA that provide feedback to CMS on proposed legislation. In addition, she is a speaker for state and national MGMA meetings, as well as several rural health associations. She has a passion for physician advocacy, engaging in several terms on government affairs and legislative committees lobbying for healthcare improvement.


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