Chuck the pessimism. Use your healthcare influence in positive ways

Eternal pessimism.That seems to be the theme when I speak with a lot of industry companies these days. They are pessimistic about their chances of achieving any kind of significant growth in the Canadian healthcare market. They are pessimistic about their ability to partner with healthcare providers and get new technology and procedures adopted. They are pessimistic about the outcomes that will happen as a result of all of the purchasing consolidation that is happening at a regional and provincial level.Is this pessimism warranted? Let’s see. Healthcare providers are more risk averse than ever. There is more purchasing consolidation, which means fewer potential customers. Funding is tight. Decisions are being made on a short-term basis. Procurement rules are being misinterpreted and misunderstood. Industry companies are being squeezed for every last dollar.It sure sounds like it’s warranted. But let me pose a different question—where will that pessimism get you? That’s right. Nowhere. The organizations that are having the most success are the ones that are not spending time and energy worrying and complaining about what’s wrong with the industry. They are spending time and resources on trying to figure out ways to take advantage of it (while everyone else wallows in self-pity).Just remember, this too shall pass.The healthcare market is going gangbusters in other parts of the world. We will figure it out here in Canada. We will get to a procurement process and system that allows for collaboration and encourages longer-term investments that are in the best interests of the patient and the system. We will get to a funding model that rewards performance and encourages providers to focus on their strengths. We will get to a time when the adoption of innovation is embraced and becomes commonplace.Forget about what made you successful in the past. Much of that won’t work any more. The industry has changed. The stakeholders have changed. The customer has changed. The environment has changed. We all must change with it.So instead of worrying and complaining about all the ways that our healthcare system hurts an organization’s ability to make money, focus all of that energy on making the system better. Take the lead on an important industry issue. Reach out to key customers and come up with a new service offering or solution that meets their needs in a different way. Use your influence to make a positive difference.What are you doing to help the overall Canadian healthcare system improve? Are you playing the victim or the hero? Right now, we need more heroes.Andrew Miller is a leading expert in operational excellence, who helps his clients maximize profitability and performance by integrating strategies around driving innovation and collaboration, improving customer on boarding and retention, aligning strategy and execution, hiring and retaining top people, and optimizing speed. He can be reached at andrew@acmconsulting.ca

Chuck the pessimism. Use your healthcare influence in positive ways

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