Katie Owens - Healthcare Speaker and Executive Coach

Lead Author, The HCAHPS Imperative for Patient-Centered Excellence

Urgency to repeal the Affordable Care Act: an amygdala hijack?

How healthcare leaders can stay focused









  1. It seems that the entire world especially those using social media have had an “amygdala hijack” it is difficult to respond to “friends” of twenty years or mentors or experts we respect of many years when the rhetoric and emotions are sooo highly exaggerated , what are some words or actions you suggest to defuse or bring back the other side of the brain when the people we deal with each and every day raise their voices and their blood pressure when discussing ACA? TY

    • Katie Owens

      January 24, 2017 at 1:29 pm

      Build organizational identity and confidence that despite distractions our goals remain to provide the very best care. Leverage your values, standards of behavior and rounding to create ongoing cues of focus.

      It is more important than ever before to be intentional about messaging given the current environment. We recommend senior teams develop messages ( or elevator speech) that answer four questions.
      1- what is it?
      2- why is it important?
      3- what will success look like?
      4- what do you need someone to do?

      Take time to assure your leadership ranks are in alignment with your messages and plans. Consider involving staff to volunteer non-negotiable words or behaviors that serve as distractors to staying focused. Ask for shared ownership in supporting each other and pulling each other back when negativity creeps in.

  2. Thank you for this thoughtful and thought-provoking blog! We have much work to do to ensure we create a world guided by empathy, for our patients, our employees, and our loved ones. Stopping to think (and to breathe) will help us all to make better decisions in this new and uncharted world.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.