Hospital Administrators and LinkedIn: Why They Belong Together
When people think of health care professionals, the hospital administrator is likely not the first role that comes to mind. But as the person responsible for ensuring that the facility is utilizing the most efficient and effective practices, the hospital administrator plays a critical role in positive outcomes for patients and staff alike. Because this important position impacts every aspect of a hospital’s operations, it requires depth and breadth of knowledge and skills in many areas including communication, relationship building, and analysis.
Successful hospital administration requires the use of a variety of means. One perhaps underlooked but very effective tool is the online networking service LinkedIn. It offers several powerful advantages that are especially helpful for a hospital administrator.
Keep Up With Technology
Staying current in the rapidly changing field of health care can be challenging. By strategically creating and maintaining a LinkedIn profile, a hospital administrator can cultivate a broad network of other industry professionals who share knowledge on the platform. Technology is one area in which changes seem to happen overnight. From the use of wearable trackers and sensors to the advantages of developing a sales forecast, an administrator can keep up-to-date on emerging trends. The use of artificial intelligence and augmented reality are two other rapidly-growing technologies that offer fascinating possibilities for health care, and LinkedIn is a good place to find robust discussions about them.
Recruit the Right Talent
This is probably the best-known feature of LinkedIn. Job seekers are especially drawn to its broad reach, but employers can benefit as well. By carefully assessing a potential hire’s LinkedIn profile, an administrator can gain invaluable insights into not only the candidate’s professional achievements but also their passion for what they do and their attention to detail.
When recruiting new staff, a hospital administrator should pay careful attention to the wording of the LinkedIn job description. To maximize diversity in candidates, avoid industry jargon and potentially off-putting job titles like ninja or guru. Provide straightforward information that includes salary range if possible.
Promote New Services
If the hospital is opening a new clinic or beginning an exciting new clinical trial, the community needs to know about it. By using LinkedIn, along with other outlets, to publicize the facility’s latest events and announcements, a hospital administrator can ensure this vital information reaches the widest possible audience. There are lots of online resources that can help make the most of a LinkedIn page.
Boost the Facility’s Reputation
By consistently posting relevant content, a hospital administrator can use LinkedIn to increase the level of trust within the community. Sharing informative articles, graphics, and videos that engage the audience will help cement the hospital’s standing as a trusted expert on health care. One of the hottest topics in health care right now is the concept of social determinants of health. The realization that a person’s health is influenced by a wide range of factors, including the conditions in their home, neighborhood, and workplace, is spurring new and exciting approaches. Sharing well-researched and well-written posts about this growing movement would be not only helpful for the individual reader but would also help distinguish the hospital as being on the cutting edge.
Another hot topic in the health care field is patient engagement. Rapidly fading are the days when the doctor was the dictator of treatment plans. Today, the doctor increasingly serves as a member of a team, with the patient as the ultimate decision-maker. A hospital administrator can leverage LinkedIn to position their facility as an industry leader by promoting its focus on placing the patient voice at the center of decision-making.
In many ways, a hospital administrator serves a facility as a doctor does a patient. Both are focused on creating successful outcomes through the use of talent, experience, and cutting-edge methodology. For the administrator, LinkedIn can play a significant role in ensuring the health of the hospital as well as their own career.
