The U.S. healthcare industry is facing monumental challenges as the economic situation remains in flux, the population ages and the demands of healthcare reform begin to emerge. To thrive, not simply survive, in the current healthcare environment, companies must go above and beyond standard clinical and administrative "improvements." Internal culture change within organizations often comes on the heels of industry upheaval and is an area that also demands attention. To successfully navigate the new healthcare landscape, organizations must adapt and develop highly innovative approaches to internal cultural transformation.

This was the challenge presented to 24 high potential employees participating in Premier's High-Performance Development (PHD) program. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Premier is the nation's leading alliance of nonprofit hospitals, health systems, and other healthcare providers. Bridge Consulting worked with Premier to design and deliver the yearlong PHD Program, which included a strong set of leadership challenges, self-discovery opportunities, real work projects and experiential learning activities.

Rick Mathis, Ph.D., consultant and former Senior Manager for Medical Policy Research and Development at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, provided perspective on how the PHD program helped Premier prepare for cultural transformation. "Adults learn more by doing than listening, and the PHD program was a prime example of this simple fact. It was highly participative and specifically oriented towards innovative and systemic organizational solutions based on existing best practices in high performing companies. During the meeting, participants worked in facilitated groups to identify bold ideas that would help create effective cultural transformation, shape the company's future and pave their personal paths as up-and-coming leaders at Premier," said Mathis.

To help facilitate cultural transformation, PHD participants were also challenged to take a deeper look at why they work at Premier and how they can contribute to the company's overall mission. Simon Sinek's presentation, "Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Action," provided a great framework for discussion and inspired out-of-the-box thinking. According to Sinek, inspired leaders and organizations, despite size and industry, all think, act, and communicate from the inside out. Starting with the question "why" ― Why do you do what you do? Why do you believe what you believe? Why change? ― moves people to take action and ownership when faced with challenges, such as culture change.

"This is exactly the kind of effort that needs to take place for companies to respond effectively to reform," Mathis concluded. Adapting to new reforms and preparing for cultural transformation in an organization is no easy task. Through customized solutions, such as Premier's PHD program, the Bridge team helps companies navigate through the storms and plot a course for future success.