The Need
In today’s turbulent environment it is essential that the members of a medical group agree on a common vision for the future direction of their organization. This common vision is often difficult to develop because the members of the group rarely focus on it in a group setting. The lack of agreed-upon objectives and goals can hinder the organization by fragmenting the efforts of both the physicians and administrative staff.
Latham Consulting Group’s Strategic Planning Facilitation Services can help your group develop a plan which provides guidance, direction and boundaries for its strategic and operational management. Developing a strategic plan typically involves the physicians and management in a structured and systematic process of:
- Developing a mission/vision statement for the group which identifies the driving force behind the group and sets agreed-upon boundaries for the organization;
- Identifying opportunities and threats in the external environment;
- Reviewing the group’s strengths and weaknesses; and
- Developing long-range objectives and goals for the group, with accompanying responsibility for implementation.
The result is an agreed upon set of objectives and goals which can be pursued by the group.
Our Services
The planning process typically begins with individual interviews with all or selected physicians and members of the management team. Additional data gathering is typically performed to gain a comprehensive understanding of the group’s internal dynamics and external environment. This effort is then followed by a one or two day retreat where the group shapes its plan. Subsequent to the retreat we provide a written report summarizing the decisions made at the meeting.
Latham Consulting Group has facilitated hundreds of strategic planning efforts for groups of nearly all sizes and specialties. Groups engage us because:
- The practice leadership wants to participate in the development of the plan instead of facilitating its development.
- The group seeks an experienced, outside and objective viewpoint.
- There are sensitive issues to be addressed that the group itself has not been able to resolve.