Why better culture, not more pay, can heal your workplace woes

Culture, not compensation, is a leading factor to keep health care employees on the job, said a former hospital CEO who focuses on leadership.

Jeff Whitehorn, MBA, LFACHE, ACC, will become a three-time presenter at this year’s annual conference of the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) fall conference, bringing a message aimed at one of health care's most persistent challenges: staff turnover. Whitehorn, founder and CEO of Whitehorn Coaching & Consulting LLC in Tennessee, is scheduled to present “Culture CPR: Administer Immediately to Invigorate Culture and Boost Employee Retention.”

Whitehorn spent 25 years as a hospital chief executive officer before turning to leadership coaching and speaking. He is the author of "Leadership Treasure: 25 Bits of Gold Discovered From 25 Years as a CEO," which draws on lessons from his tenure.

First-year turnover in medical practices and hospitals remains high, he said, typically running between 25% and 35%, even as the numbers have improved in recent years. Rather than relying on signing bonuses or short-term pay incentives, Whitehorn advocates for a framework he calls Culture CPR, built around celebration, purpose and addressing the reality of what is and isn't working within an organization. Leading with purpose alone, he said, is a no-cost intervention that can measurably increase how appreciated and engaged employees feel and significantly raise the odds they stay.

Whitehorn spoke with Medical Economics ahead of his MGMA session to discuss workplace culture, retention and what physicians and other health care leaders can do starting today.