Donna Marbury hit the nail on the head identifying the traits mental health leaders need to embody during this time of transition. Ohio Community Mental Health Centers (CMHC) are going through a period of fundamental change.

In her article she highlights the need for executives to 1) Embrace technology, 2) Encourage program innovation, 3) Be in tune with staff, 4) Understand patient needs, and 5) Have patience.

For Ohio CMHCs, technology is going to be one of the keys to staying relevant. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Ohio Behavioral Health Redesign (BHR) are emphasizing outcomes. Agencies that are stronger  at demonstrating patient improvement will have an edge. Being successful at this means embracing a powerful technology system that makes data easily accessible. Knowing the patients that are  served and how to adapt programming to increase accessibility and help them accomplish their goals will be essential. It also means finding ways to help each patient holistically. The outcomes that the ACA and BHR want to see reflect both physical and mental wellness.

Great clinicians and support personnel make this happen. No director can succeed without excellent staff that works well as a team.    Gary Humble of Pinnacle Partners, who is quoted in the article below says it well, “the infrastructure of the organization—the clinical and administrative pieces—must be in unison.”

There are many articles out there about what it takes to be a leader. If you’re in the behavioral health field, this one is  worth the read.

http://http://www.behavioral.net/article/5-skills-every-executive-must-have