Today’s healthcare executives face unique leadership challenges that are driven by health system consolidation; shifts in organizational culture; changes in employee composition; and redesign from the bedside to the boardroom. Organizations are faced with recruiting leaders for emerging roles that align with new healthcare structures and replacing an entire generation of baby boomers. Successful leadership recruitment is of unprecedented importance to attaining strategic outcomes.
In-house Recruitment Limitations
Even the most adept in-house human resources departments have limitations in identifying the best talent available. The national perspective and broad professional networks brought to bear by an executive search firm can expand the reach and candidate pool immeasurably. However, given ever-increasing cost constraints, when does it make the most sense to engage a search firm?
Benefits of Partnering with a Retained Search Firm in the Executive Search Process
A retained executive search firm brings value when an organization is seeking high performing candidates with unique expertise and competencies many of whom are not actively seeking new positions. A search firm can also bring important executive search process expertise for situations with multiple stakeholders invested in the success of the candidate selected. Careful upfront evaluation of needs and consensus building to align internal expectations and market trends can save time, money and relationships. The supply and demand for a particular role is also a deciding factor.
Three positions that clients consistently view as providing a return on investment with a retained executive search firm include:
1. System-level executives
2. C-Suite executives
3. Leaders for mission-critical departments and service lines:
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Signature service lines: Oncology Services, Women Services
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Services with broad customer and community reach: Emergency Services, Ambulatory Care
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High revenue impact departments: Surgical/Perioperative Services, Case Management
Clients who retain search services and begin the executive search process attract leaders with contemporary knowledge and leading-edge expertise when faced with operational performance problems and service redesign needs.
Clients frequently seek candidates with demonstrated success in:
1. Implementing contemporary clinical practice
2. Managing cultural change
3. Establishing interprofessional collaboration
4. Improving employee engagement
5. Achieve performance metrics for clinical quality or patient experience
We Understand Healthcare Organizations
Kirby Bates Associates is at the forefront of evolving leadership models and we understand the competencies and expertise needed to fill those roles. Executives from leading health systems and hospitals find Kirby Bates Associates’ insights and resources invaluable in this time of extraordinary change. Our unique process for finding the best candidates is efficient and cost-effective. Click here to view our Executive Search Process infographic detailing our proven approach.
To learn more about the executive search process read, Acquiring Top Leadership Talent for Healthcare Organizations: When Should Healthcare Executives Use Retained Search Firms? By M. Jane Fitzsimmons, MSN, RN.