Frequently Asked Questions

Tell me about the Hospital Leadership Institute. What's your story?

Lyle Kay (the Founder of the Hospital Leadership Institute) was the Director of Organizational Development at a community hospital early in his career. One day, he was asked to implement a comprehensive leadership development program for all Directors and above. Initially he sought vendors that met the following requirements:

The program had to be designed specifically for healthcare leaders.
It had to teach a broad spectrum of skills necessary for leadership success.
It had to include tools that worked well in the unique healthcare environment.
It had to reinforce the goals of the organization.
It had to be respectful of participants' time.
It had to be fun and engaging.
It had to be affordable.

After analyzing many vendor proposals, it became clear that no vendor met all of his requirements. In 2014, Lyle decided to start his own leadership development company, offering hospitals and healthcare systems a brand new, comprehensive program that's designed around best practices.

What classes are taught in the Healthcare Leader Certificate Program?

The curriculum consists of the following eight classes:

Managing & Leading: The Path Toward Exceptional Leadership
Communication Skills for the Healthcare Leader
Managing Performance throughout the Lifecycle of the Employee
Managing Change in a Complex, Fast-Paced Environment
Increasing Individual & Team Productivity
Managing Disruptive Behavior and Conflict within the Team
Building a Culture of Ownership and Accountability
Continuing One's Journey Toward Leadership Greatness

Optional Class for Directors: Developing & Executing a Successful Strategic Plan

Are the classes held in a classroom, or over a computer?

HLI facilitates the program over Zoom. However, if requested, we can also facilitate the program live, on your campus.

Who should attend the program?

The Healthcare Leader Certificate Program is designed for a multidisciplinary audience of clinical and non-clinical leaders at all levels in the organization. Past participants included high-potential staff, supervisors, managers, directors, and vice presidents.

Where does HLI get its content?

The Hospital Leadership Institute is constantly scanning the environment for leadership concepts recommended by industry thought-leaders, researchers, and reputable publications like Harvard Business Review. If the content is deemed applicable to healthcare leaders, we then incorporate the skills into the program.

Who designed the program?

The program was designed by Lyle Kay, a Learning and Development professional with over 20 years’ experience creating Training and Development programs for hospitals and healthcare systems. His education includes an MBA from the University of Illinois and an Administrative Fellowship from Stony Brook University Medical Center. He's a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and a Certified Green Belt in Lean Six-Sigma.

What's the time commitment for participants?

Total Classroom Training Time is approximately 20 hours, excluding the time spent on class assignments.

How often should the classes be held?

It's recommended that classes be held monthly in order to give participants ample time to apply the skills to their jobs. If necessary, the Healthcare Leader Certificate Program can be expedited, with classes held bi-weekly, weekly, or even daily (resulting in a 2-week intensive program).

What's involved in implementing this program?

We make it as easy as possible for organizations to implement the Healthcare Leader Certificate Program: Step 1) review and sign the contract; Step 2) identify the participants and training dates; Step 3) send us the participant contact information. We'll handle everything else including tracking attendance, obtaining class evaluations, compiling attendance and evaluation reports, distributing materials, facilitating the optional Leader Assessment, printing certificates of completion, and creating digital badges.

What happens if a participant misses a class?

Participants may attend complimentary make-up classes whenever the same class is offered again in the organization.

Do participants receive feedback about their leadership skills?

The Hospital Leadership Institute facilitates an optional Leader Assessment that covers over 60 leadership skills and behaviors. This proprietary assessment helps leaders identify the most important skills requiring attention for their own leadership growth. The assessment follows the curriculum of the Healthcare Leader Certificate Program.

Do participants become better leaders?

Yes, participants become better leaders because we: 1) teach the program in a way that resonates with our audience; 2) use methodologies that promote long-term learning retention, and 3) provide tools that work well in the unique health care environment.

Can this program improve leadership recruitment?

Yes, candidates are more likely to accept a leadership position knowing they’d be supported through a high-quality leadership development program.

Can this program reduce turnover?

Absolutely. A high-quality leadership development program teaches managers how to lead effectively, resulting in greater employee engagement and less turnover.

Can this program be used for continuing education?

Most credentialing agencies accept CE credits from the Hospital Leadership Institute. Participants who attend all eight classes will receive 20 CE credits. Please note that the Hospital Leadership Institute makes no guarantee that CE credits will be accepted; please call your respective credentialing agencies for more information.

How does the Healthcare Leader Certificate Program compare to other programs?

HLI's training is more effective than other programs, because:

Our classes are tailored toward the unique needs of healthcare leaders.
Our classes incorporate discussions and scenarios that reinforce your organization's goals.
Our classes promote learning retention by incorporating stories, humor, games, and exercises.
Our classes allow for participant interaction, so leaders learn from each other.
Our classes break down organizational silos by bringing clinical and non-clinical leaders together.
Our classes include assignments that help participants transfer the content to their work environment.
Our class notes, worksheets and handouts are provided in electronic format for easy retrieval.
Our classes are taught by experienced facilitators who:

Have significant knowledge of the changing healthcare environment
Are proficient in management and leadership best practices
Are knowledgeable about adult learning theory
Have significant experience teaching front-line, mid-level, and executive leaders

Our classes are fun and engaging.

For all the above reasons, the Healthcare Leader Certificate Program is the best choice for growing your leadership team.

How do I gain buy-in for this program?

The best way to gain buy-in is to ask your mid-level leaders (Managers and Directors) if they'd like to participate in a leadership development program. Most leaders view leadership development as an important job benefit that will help them throughout their careers. Once you have a list of willing participants, it becomes easier to gain buy-in.

How much does the program cost?

HLI provides an exceptional leadership development program at a price point that can't be matched by other renowned leadership venders. Please call the Hospital Leadership Institute at (847) 423-6041 for current pricing.

What if we're not satisfied with the program? Are we locked into the contract?

Rest assured, you can cancel the program at any time, for any reason, without penalty; you'll only pay for the classes that were already taught.

Do you have references?

We'll be happy to provide references.

Is there any other information that you can provide?

We can e-mail you a brochure, convene a live webinar, or answer any questions you might have by calling us at (847)423-6041, or click on the "Contact Us" link on the menu bar.