Elizabeth J. Layman

Health informatics: ethical issues.

Ethics is a component of the education of health care mangers and supervisors. Recent advances in the technologies of health informatics present these leader with new ethical challenges. Holding the promise of beneficence, these technologies are purported to increase access, improve quality, and decrease the costs of care. Aspects of these technologies, however, create conflicts with the ethical principles of autonomy, fidelity, and justice. Infoethics is suggested as a means to examine these conflicts. A multipronged solution that incorporates adherence to regulations and standards, promotion of codes of conduct and ethics, and creation of a culture of infoethics is recommended.

Environmental scanning and the health care manager.

Health care managers and supervisors work in an environment of major changes and ongoing turbulence. Basic terms and strategic approaches are described to enable managers and supervisors to better understand the process of environmental scanning in the turbulent health care environment. Drawing from multiple disciplines, the information allows health care managers and supervisors to improve their skills as environmental scanners as they develop and implement strategic plans in this environment.

Decision making for health care managers and supervisors: theory into practice.

Health care managers and supervisors make decisions throughout the day. Often, they use the common steps of decision making. This article describes common decision theories that underpin the steps. The article includes specific examples of applications of the theories and a glossary of terms. Experienced and novice health care managers and supervisors can improve their decision making by matching concepts from the decision theories to their problems.

Using a multipronged approach to implement organizational performance improvements.

Efforts to improve organizational performance sometimes fail. One way to increase the likelihood of a successful implementation is to adopt a multipronged approach. This article describes a multipronged approach for change management and performance improvement. The approach combines a systems implementation process with sensitivity to the human side of change. Tactics to defuse resistance are also discussed. The approach assists leaders assigned to coordinate performance improvements.

Renewal versus burnout: a career blueprint.

The art of renewal keeps managers and supervisors enthused and excited about what they do. Renewal preserves the sense of purpose that managers and supervisors bring to their jobs and careers. Renewal can be learned and is based on the basic theories of motivation and coping. This article serves as a review for veteran managers and supervisors and as a primer for new managers and supervisors.