Early bird meetings spark healthcare debate
PENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES — The trend of flexible work arrangements has trickled down to healthcare. Several health institutions interviewed by Becker’s Hospital Review share how they have modified early-morning meetings, from completely discarding them to tweaking them to ensure productivity.
While early meetings are regular, these health systems agree that heightened focus and flexibility are needed.
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia: Early meetings unavoidable
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia acknowledged the necessity of early meetings, with some starting as early as 7 a.m. to accommodate patient demands and clinical schedules.
However, the organization is becoming more intentional in its approach, questioning the purpose and attendance requirements for each meeting.
Mercy Health: Respecting employees’ time
Similarly, Mercy Health Services in Missouri recognizes the round-the-clock nature of healthcare but emphasizes respecting employees’ time.
“We provide care 24/7 and many of our Mercy co-workers are available at all hours of the day. So, while we can’t predict when care will be needed, we do know that time is a gift,” said Catherine Codispoti, said Mercy’s senior vice president and chief people officer.
OSF HealthCare: Promoting work-life balance
OSF HealthCare in Peoria, Illinois, has taken a proactive stance, nudging divisions to consider work-life balance and efficiency in their meeting practices.
This includes implementing 45-minute blocks to allow for breaks between calls and setting agendas with pre-reading materials.
Additionally, several departments in the hospital have added “focus time” in their planners, where meetings cannot be scheduled. These are reserved for deeper workflows, and some leaders have even allotted part or entire Fridays for focus time.
OSF HealthCare HR office Shelley Parn recognizes that not all employees are on-call, so managers are expected to respect business hours.
UCHealth and WVU Medicine: Early bird meetings
Interestingly, Dallis Howard-Crow, UCHealth’s chief human resources officer, believes that 8 a.m. meetings are considered late in the industry. Some providers schedule meetings at 6:30 a.m., so the rest of the day would be devoted to patients. However, UCHealth has reduced meetings to 30-45 minutes.
Leeann Kaminsky, senior vice president and CHRO for WVU Medicine, believes that the remote work trend post-pandemic has made it easier to schedule appointments. They have set up meetings at 6 a.m. but limit them during Friday afternoons.
