October 30, 2024
Q: Kaitlyn, first of all, congratulations on winning the Future Horizon Award! What does this recognition mean to you?
Kaitlyn: Winning the Future Horizon Award is truly an honor that reflects not just my efforts, but the dedication and resilience of my entire team at Midland Memorial Hospital. This recognition strengthens my commitment to mentorship and fostering the next generation of healthcare foodservice leaders. It encourages me to continue pushing boundaries, seeking innovative solutions, and championing self-operation models that elevate patient care standards.
Q: What key leadership strategies have helped you navigate challenges, such as the pandemic and the Texas freeze crisis?
Kaitlyn: In both situations, my key strategy was prioritizing employee welfare. It is my staff's role to care for our patients and it’s my job to care for them! This meant not only implementing rigorous safety protocols but also providing emotional support and recognition for their extraordinary efforts. One way we kept morale high was to partner with local organizations to write notes of encouragement to our staff so that they could see the impact they had on our community in a more tangible way. We also made sure that those providing great customer service were recognized within our department and organization-wide newsletters. We focused on clear, frequent communication to keep everyone informed as safety protocols and our operational procedures changed quickly. We huddled with each shift and sent follow-up emails to ensure everyone had access to the most up to date information.
Collaboration with the C-suite was essential during these crises. I made sure to maintain open lines of communication, providing regular updates on our challenges, needs, and the steps we were taking to address them. By aligning our department's efforts with the hospital's overall crisis response, we were able to integrate our strategies effectively and secure necessary resources.
Q: How do you effectively communicate foodservice needs and strategic plans to the C-suite?
Kaitlyn: Connect your department's goals to the organization mission and vision. Align closely with the hospital's broader strategy and focus on metrics that directly impact the bottom line or strategic objectives. Demonstrate how your department initiatives can positively affect patient experience and outcomes. Use research and data to show how your proposals improve patient satisfaction scores and potentially lead to faster recovery times.In my experience, you only have a few minutes to get your point across.You have to start with the “why”. When introducing the malnutrition initiative to my vice president I relayed the impact on patient care, the upcoming regulatory reporting requirements and the financial impact. Once he understood the importance of the issue we were able to prioritize implementing a solution.
Q: What role does mentorship play in your leadership approach, and how does it contribute to the future of healthcare foodservice?
Kaitlyn: I believe that nurturing talent and fostering the growth of future leaders is crucial for the continued advancement of healthcare foodservice. As someone who has benefited greatly from mentorship and the resources provided by organizations like AHF, I feel a strong responsibility to pay it forward. By allowing others the opportunities to participate in challenging projects you are contributing to their professional growth and building their confidence for the future.When a dietitian joined our department, I spoke with her about her goals. She decided to take a leap of faith to become the patient services manager at MMH. We have worked together through some of the toughest times, complex employee situations, and intense patient cases. Over time she has grown more confident as a leader. Seeing her succeed reminded me how impactful mentorship can be—for both the mentee and the mentor.
Q: Looking to the future, what trends do you see shaping the healthcare foodservice landscape, and how can leaders' best position themselves for success?
Kaitlyn: Key trends include advanced technology, AI integration, and a growing call for personalized nutrition as part of patient care. To position themselves for success, healthcare foodservice leaders should:
