6 November My Journey from Clinician to Health Service Manager: Lessons from a 2-Year Internship (By Sally Guo) November 6, 2023 By Sharnee Trehan career, challenges, Change, fresh starts, internship 0 By Sally Guo 2nd Year Management Intern My Journey from Clinician to Health Service Manager: Lessons from a 2-Year Internship As I reflect on my transition from clinician to health service manager, I'm reminded of the wisdom that says the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, but the second-best time is now. The decision to embark on this journey, whether through the ACSHM internship, further studies, or clinical management roles, was not taken lightly. It required a leap of faith, a seizing of the moment. In the world of healthcare, one thing has become abundantly clear to me: the pursuit of knowledge must be relentless. While my time at university and in clinical practice provided me with a solid foundation of hard skills, delving into health service management illuminated the importance of soft skills. It's like tending to a garden of ever-changing diagnoses and treatments, where continuous learning is the bedrock of effective management. Finding a role model has been instrumental in my growth. Just as in the early days of my clinical career, I watched in awe and learned from seasoned clinicians facing challenging situations. Now, in the realm of health service management, I have a guiding light in a leadership role model. Observing how they navigate team dynamics and handle adversity has been an invaluable source of inspiration. Overcoming fear has been my greatest triumph. Stepping out of my comfort zone, especially during the transition from clinician to manager, was a journey of self-discovery. While my university education equipped me with essential management skills, the art of leadership was a path I had to forge on my own. It demanded a courage that transcended the boundaries of fear. Looking back, my two-year internship in health service management has been a crucible of growth. It's reinforced the importance of seizing each moment, of embracing a lifelong pursuit of knowledge, and cherishing the mentorship that shapes us. Leading in the face of uncertainty has become a deeply personal endeavor. This transition has been more than a shift in my career; it's been a profound metamorphosis, a continuous process of self-reflection and growth. Through these insights, I've come to understand that the journey itself is as enriching as the destination. Disclaimer: Views are those of individual authors and not those of ACHSM or management intern’s employers. Related Posts Value based health care model and leadership (By Tinto Cherian) Rising healthcare costs is driving Australia to contain costs while improving the quality of care. Value-based health care (VBHC) model is one such approach that is explored around the world that focus on the ‘value of care provided’ rather than the ‘volume of services’ and prioritise patient outcomes while reducing costs. The challenges in providing rural healthcare According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), 75% of the population does not get enough exercise and 69% of the population are considered overweight or obese in rural communities. What is value-based healthcare? Have you ever heard of value-based healthcare? When I was first introduced to the term during my initial days at Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV) in January 2019 on my very first placement, I thought it was another one of those ‘word salads’ - I understood each of the individual words, but the whole term made no sense! Climate change: the role of health service management in leading for change (Funmi Lamidi) Funmi Lamidi discusses the role that health service management can play in combatting the climate crisis. Planetary Health and Public Health: The case for collective action (By Leah Agustin) The inextricable link between planetary health and public health has been spotlighted in the global climate change agenda, as the United Nations COP28 welcomed its first dedicated Health Day in December 2023. I want to take the time to reflect on four key lessons I have learned to date. #1 – The climate crisis is a public health crisis. #2 – Environmental sustainability and financial sustainability are not mutually exclusive. #3 – First Peoples’ voice must be at the centre of climate and health decision-making. #4 – Effective climate action requires intersectoral collaboration on a local, national, and global scale. National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards and the new Health Manager Ensuring the delivery of safe and high-quality patient care is the responsibility of everyone that work within the health service – including the patient themselves. Introduced in 2013, the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards stipulate the level of care consumers can expect to receive during their episode of care. Comments are closed.