It is important for every HTM department to have a set of clearly developed goals. Goals establish direction for your department and provide an operational framework for all employees. There are no rules for goal setting. General guidelines, however, recommend that it is best not to have too many and they should be simple, realistic, and attainable. When you set your goals, be certain that all members of your department understand and agree with them. After you establish your goals, do not hide them, away with your policy and procedure manual. Instead, write them down, print them in a large typeface and frame them. Display them prominently in a place where they can be seen by every department member and visitor. Let them serve as a constant reminder of what you are trying to achieve. Also, be certain to involve all members of your department in the process and explain to them that, as a team, they are all responsible for reaching the goals. Most importantly, be sure to incorporate them into your employee evaluation forms and assure employees that they have complete freedom to act broadly within the guidelines set by these goals. Let your employees know that if they work within the framework these goals, they will get positive reviews.
I am a strong believer that you should use department goals used as a means to improve relationships in four key areas: within your department, with your customers, with your vendors, and with other members of your profession. Focusing on these key groups will help you develop much stronger ties to them and it will improve the way others perceive your department. Listed below are examples of four very basic goals that can provide an excellent framework for achieving these objectives. These examples are not about your technical skills, or repair and maintenance of medical devices. They also have nothing to do with saving money or increasing productivity. That is because these goals focus on how your department relates to others and they provide a basis for continually improving those relationships. They enable you, your staff and your department to become the best that you can be. It is the first step in gaining the level of respect that you desire to attain.
Goal number 1
Customers who believe that we are dedicated to providing them with the best possible serviceGoal Number 2
Employees who cannot think of a better place where they would like to workGoal Number 3
A professional community that views us as a shining example of what a Clinical engineering department can beGoal Number 4
Vendors excited enough to call us their favorite account
In subsequent weeks, we will discuss why each of these goals is important. We will discuss them in depth and we will provide examples of the kinds of programs you can implement in order to achieve each of them.