Richard S. Isaacs, MD, FACS, shares COVID-19 leadership tips with Managed Healthcare Executive

Supporting ingenuity and communicating regularly and openly are 2 key ways health care executives can meet and master the unrelenting demands of leadership during the current COVID-19 pandemic, Richard S. Isaacs, MD, FACS, CEO and executive director of The Permanente Medical Group (TPMG), said in a recent interview with Managed Healthcare Executive.

Dr. Isaacs, who is also president and CEO of the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group and co-CEO of The Permanente Federation, provided an example of how leadership supported team ingenuity for the article, “9 Ways to Show Strong Leadership During the COVID-19 Outbreak.”

As the coronavirus outbreak started to ratchet up, Kaiser Permanente carpenters who used to build furniture for hospitals and medical offices turned to making face shields, Dr. Isaacs said.

“In the first 2 weeks, our carpenters delivered nearly 12,000 face shields that went into immediate use for our frontline clinicians.”

Another important leadership practice — especially during a crisis — is to communicate regularly and openly, as holding back during a crisis can lead to rumors and worry.

“Be visible, overcommunicate, and be transparent,” Dr. Isaacs advised.

Note: To read the full article, visit the Managed Healthcare Executive site.