Kenyon Connects

When there is a vacancy at the top, it can wreak havoc on a home health agency. Strategic initiatives that are underway may lose their emphasis with no one to drive the changes, and executive level relationships in the community can be lost. Most agencies can survive for 2- 3 months but, beyond that, lack of attention to important elements can cause an agency to turn in a direction that is not good for the agency, the staff or the clients.

It takes time and serious due diligence to find the right person to lead the agency. As I was once told by a very wise executive, “No hire is better than a bad hire.” Take your time to make sure the leader you hire is the right fit for the job, the agency and your staff. Unless a transition plan is in place in your agency, and the next leader has been groomed and is ready to permanently take the helm, your home health agency will need to bring in a temporary leader or a home health interim executive.

So why bring someone in on a temporary basis? There are several reasons a temporary leader is preferable before a permanent leader is found and hired.

First, an outside executive has fresh eyes. A seasoned interim manager brings a wealth of previous experience with multiple agencies in different situations, allowing them to apply corrections that may not be apparent to others. In addition to making sure your agency runs smoothly, an interim leader can identify problems that are unseen or unnoticed by current staff who are so busy with the day-to-day operations they do not question whether they are effective or appropriate. Because every effective interim management contract includes an organizational assessment, the interim home health executive leader will have identified areas for improvement. However, because an assessment is a broad overview, smaller issues that have grave impact on your agency’s performance may not be caught in the first sweep of the organizational assessment. A skilled home health interim executive will quickly be able to size up the underlying issues and currents that so often run through a home health agency, especially one in transition.

Additionally, the home health interim executive will be able to do an objective assessment of the individuals in the organization and make corrections where needed. Frequently, underperforming or incorrectly placed staff are not corrected or moved because of the relationship between the manager and the staff. A home health interim executive does not have that bias and is in a position to make objective decisions about the performance and placement of your staff. If another position can be found for which the individual is qualified, the transfer can be made with fewer emotional issues. If there is not an opportunity to relocate the employee, a good home health interim executive will work with the HR department or staff to ensure that the termination is as painless as possible to both the staff person and the organization.

Finally, a qualified home health executive brings experience and knowledge that is current and applicable to the position. We have found that currently employed home health executives frequently do not go to conferences and trainings because of the heavy demands in the workplace. This puts the agency at a disadvantage. The leader is not up to date with the latest changes and how others in the industry are solving them. Additionally, the executive is not able to execute one of their primary functions: knowing future changes and trends and preparing your agency for those changes. An interim home health executive brings all of that, and more, to your agency.

If your agency is in transition and in need of a temporary executive to lead it while you seek a permanent replacement, call Kenyon HomeCare Consulting to discuss your needs and allow us to assist you through this time of transition. For more information on how we help you make the most of your temporary transition, visit http://kenyonhcc.com/services/interim-management.