In today’s complex healthcare settings, in the increasingly complex healthcare settings, more people recognize the role of leadership in achieving organizational goals (Buckbinder & Shanks, 2012, p. 25). Effective leadership can bring transformative changes and goes hand in hand with ethics since it is based on the values of honesty, integrity, and trust. An example of such leadership is Dr. Steve Tobias, a president, board chair and medical director of Physician Care Services (PCS).
Dr. Steve Tobias created PCS to provide high-quality non-emergency medical care services. No similar services are offered in the area where each medical center is located. In spite of the unique position the company has on the market, Dr. Tobias did not let it compromise the quality of medical services. The patients of PCS report complete satisfaction with the quality of care, and Dr. Tobias himself conducts random quality checks to make sure that medical care is of the highest standard. While competent medical and administrative staff share credit with Dr. Tobias, it is important to consider his contribution to the development of PCS.
Dr. Tobias is an integral part of the company’s operations. In fact, in 2013 a bank noted that as the president, board chair and medical director of PCS, Dr. Tobias was too involved in the company’s operations, and his responsibilities could be shared between two or three different people.
Dr. Tobias completed medical school and is certified in “general internal medicine, emergency medicine, and occupational health” (Seidel & Lewis, 2014, p. 81). As such, he is more than competent in the recruitment of the best medical personnel, as well as the implementation of medical quality assurance programs. Dr. Tobias showed the excellent understanding of the importance of medical technology and best business practices in creating an efficient medical facility. Digital medical records and computerized prescription order medical systems used at PCS help control expenditures by minimizing administrative workload. In addition, such technology enables information flow between medical personnel and allows practitioners make informed decisions about the diagnosis and treatment.
Dr. Tobias is also responsible for lean thinking practices established at the facilities. The model of lean thinking implies achieving greater efficiency by eliminating waste, i.e. such practices or activities which negatively affect business performance. The application of this model at the facilities allows PCS greatly reduce labor costs: currently medical personnel are fully present at the facilities only at those times when the majority of patients come in.
In addition to being an excellent leader, Dr. Tobias showed that his leadership is based on ethical principles of integrity and honesty. The fundamental characteristic of ethical leadership is using ethical principles in decision-making, or evaluating all courses of action and choosing one which will be viewed as ethical by a larger community. In 2012, Dr. Tobias made a hard decision to discharge one of the medical personnel who could not cope with her job responsibilities in spite of the fact that she was a sister of the vice president of human resources at Calstead Rayon, the company which was one of PCS growing clients. This decision shows that Dr. Tobias is committed to integrity and strives to address and prevent unethical behavior.
The leaders influence their followers’ behavior by being an example and acting as a role model, communicating the ethical message. Dr. Tobias showed his potency as a leader, as a manager, and helped promote the values of integrity, and therefore, deserves a statewide award as Entrepreneur of the Year.
References
Buckbinder, S., & Shanks, N. (2012). Introduction to Health Care Management. Burlington, United States: Jones and Bartlett.
Seidel, L. F., & Lewis, J. B. (2014). The Middleboro casebook: Healthcare strategy and operations. Chicago, United States: Health Administration Press.