The purpose of this task is to understand the roles and responsibilities of managers and how their backgrounds and experiences support the work they do. You are a student of a health information management program who is required to interview your preceptor at the end of your internship in terms of their responsibilities, background, challenges, reasons for those challenges, how to solve or manage those challenges, and any advice they may have for new managers. Answer the questions that follow based on the preceptor's responses.

Responsibilities: My responsibilities also include management of the QM system for the company that is made up of over 50 quality metrics that quantify the clinical and operational quality of the company. These metrics exist in 4 domains that cover all aspects of the company: HR/Operations/H&S; Clinical Effectiveness; Marketing/Satisfaction; and Financial Efficiency.

Background and Experience: My background is varied. I have been a Physician Practice Manager, a Nursing Home Administrator, and a Director of a Home Care Agency. My educational background includes an MBA in Health Administration and since I have been employed by Jason Health and Partners. I have completed the certification for Brain Injury Specialists (CBIS) and I have also completed the CPHQ (Certified Professional of Healthcare Quality). These educational accomplishments coupled with my years of being at Jason Health and holding several positions (Case Manager, BIS, Program Director, QM Specialist, Assist. Director of QM, and Director of QM) has allowed me to gain invaluable historical knowledge of this company but also given me the opportunity to learn and grow transferable skills that any healthcare environment could benefit from. Working at ReMed/Collage Rehab Partners has allowed me to gain experience with EMR/EHR systems from the search process through implementation as well as being involved in M&A for new programs being added to the Collage Rehab Partners company.

Challenges: One of my main challenges has been in keeping up with the ever-changing healthcare landscape. Understanding how legislation affects funding and access as well as keeping up with the changes in focus on what is important for funders (QM metrics). Another consistent challenge I have faced in my over 30 yrs in Healthcare has been balancing financial stability with providing the necessary care to the persons served. The rates for reimbursement keep changing what they are based on as the market changes from fee-for-service, to managed care and now on to pay-for-performance. On a personal note, it has also been challenging to work in such diversity limited environments.

Reasons for Challenges: I believe challenges gives one the opportunity to think outside the box, be forced to look at the problem from all sides and stop thinking that there is only one way to get a problem solved.

How to Solve or Manage Challenges: In my position, I am faced every day with figuring out ways to have company systems and processes implemented in various environments where staffing, clients, and service delivery models vary widely. I have to stay focused on the outcome that needs to be achieved and not so much on the path to that outcome.

Advice: Managers these days are expected to do a lot with little. This has been compounded by the COVID pandemic, which exacerbated the staffing issue, and managers are expected to do their manager's work as well as routinely cover shifts when there is a staff shortage. What advice would you give a new manager or professional entering the field? My advice is simple. Do what has to be done to ensure the health & safety of the clients (supervision, medications, ADLs, & meals), and all the rest will occur as possible. The pandemic has definitely created a work environment that none of us could have envisioned, and especially in congregate long-term settings, the changes that have had to go into effect will not be changing soon.

Questions

1. Summarize the manager or supervisor's job responsibilities.

2. Describe how the manager or supervisor's professional background and experiences prepared them for their current position.

3. Describe what the manager or supervisor believes are the biggest challenges being experienced in their professional field (i.e., healthcare or information technology) today.

A. Discuss what the manager or supervisor believes are the reasons for the challenges described in Part 3.

B. Discuss how the challenges described in Part 3 can be managed or solved.

4. Discuss what the manager or supervisor would offer as advice to a new professional entering this environment.

5. Describe what most impressed you about the individual you interviewed based on the responses.

Acknowledge sources for content that is quoted, paraphrased, or summarized.