Good listening skills are essential to effective communication in an ASC, according to Indianapolis-based VEI Michigan Vice President of Operations Jim Stilley, who was interviewed by Roger Manning on the Excellentia Podcast.
Mr. Stilley is the previous administrator and CEO of Northwest Michigan Surgery Center in Traverse City, as well as past president of the Michigan Ambulatory Surgery Association.
Two takeaways:
1. Effective communication is the No. 1 strength an ASC administrator can have, according to Mr. Stilley. "Because we're at the crux of so many different disciplines that are coming into that ASC — from the doctor's offices to the surgeons, to the insurance companies, the patients — being able to listen, comprehend and communicate win-win goals to each of those different groups of people is more important than any one single skill an administrator can have," he said.
2. Mr. Stilley said he's finding the balance between talking and being a good listener. "I like to talk more than listen, but it's a skill I'm working on quite a bit. I feel like I'm not able to help folks — and I do a lot of training with administrators and nurses that want to become administrators — and they'll tell you, if you listen to them, exactly what they need from you. I can't do that if I'm talking all the time."