The Growing Need for Mentoring in Healthcare
Of the many programs that have been introduced and integrated in the healthcare practice, mentoring has been one of the most misunderstood and under-utilized. This is unfortunate, considering that healthcare is a sector in many areas of business that has seen an upward growth. Without mentoring, many of the practices and important methods and procedures involved in healthcare may not be maximized at all.
The need for proper mentoring in the healthcare sector
According to registered nurse and author Zardoya Eagles, a mentor can help a healthcare provider prepare himself for public service. A mentor can also help someone in the advancement of his/her career. The human factor, according to Eagles, is one of the best reasons why mentoring should take on more significance in many of today’s healthcare settings.
The results of a well-implemented mentoring practice may be difficult to quantify but it is by no means a less important undertaking. It is an acknowledged process that helps improve the processes within an organization and actually leads staff to achieve better results for their efforts, particularly in today’s knowledge-based institutions.
Benefits of healthcare mentoring
There are several advantages to ensuring that mentoring resources are provided in healthcare sectors. These include:
- The opportunity for departments within organizations to check flaws in their practices and to improve their services significantly.
- Provide a way for newbies in the industry to develop the necessary skills to work and thrive in the healthcare environment more quickly and efficiently.
- Provide the means with which future leaders within the organization are spotted and developed. Mentors within the organization can also develop their own skills and become highly valued employees.
- Provide a means for the organization to offer a nurturing form of practice to its staff and employees.
- The opportunity to achieve compliance in the industry through the improvement of services.
- Improve the management of hospitals, clinics and other healthcare institutions.
- Develop staff and employee and increase intellectual capital.
Having mentoring practices in place is also an excellent recruitment tool for healthcare institutions and a way to increase positive feedback. It is also a way for institutions to share their knowledge and other important information to help other hospitals improve their own practices and services.
Mentoring is also an excellent means to keep updated about the latest practices and developments in the healthcare sector.
Has your organization considered adopting a mentoring program? What efforts is your team making to ensure that your staff are continually growing and learning in the field?
Contact UPS Healthcare for more tips or to set up an appointment to learn how we can help your practice build efficiencies in workflow, staffing and more!