VLAssociates | Consultation Services

Consultation Services

VLA was established in 1979 to serve as consultants to organizations in the health care field. In this role we have objectively reviewed the structure, management, and design of over three hundred health care organizations in the country, guiding them through the process of organizational development. During the coming decade, as organizations assume the task of merging innovative health care systems with the constraints of cost containment, the organizational structure must change radically. New strategies will be necessary as our clients move from traditional models of patient care to those that can more effectively meet the needs of the managed care environment.

First hand experience dictates that impediments to development generally arise from either resistance to change or the uncertainty following in its wake. Regardless of the cause, change-related conflicts in the workplace can cause deep-seated unrest which creates a paralyzing "ripple effect" on the organizational change process necessitating intervention. We at VLA envision our expanded role as "change partners" with clients who are deeply concerned with the quality of patient care.

In our role as organizational consultants, we will continue to serve our clients as critical observers, innovative problem-solvers, and facilitators of change. While our consulting roles can vary significantly depending on the assignment, there are certain common strategies that we employ. Typically following an initial briefing, our involvement begins with an on-site visit where we conduct in-depth interviews with members at all levels of the organization. Through a combination of group and one-on-one interviews, issues disruptive to the team and its mission invariably surface. At this point, the trained investigator coaches individual team members, and the group as a whole, through a problem-solving phase where innovative solutions are suggested. Employees are encouraged to view the new responsibilities emanating from these changes as commensurate with personal and organizational growth.

When consultants sense a need for additional support they may suggest a presentation on the dynamics of teambuilding or leadership as a means to strengthen the group's commitment to change. Weekend retreats combine didactic lectures with experience in problem-solving, and can serve as another tool to accomplish change.

VLA consultative services do not end with the initial implementation of change, but involve periodic reviews where the VLA facilitator revisits the organization to evaluate progress and make recommendations for future adjustments.

Teambuilding Consultation

Only those employees with a personal commitment to an institution's success are sufficiently motivated to move the organization forward. The teambuilding process provides organizations with the skills and insight necessary to make this happen. The VLA approach to teambuilding focuses on improving group performance through identification of objectives, roles, and team structure, as well as improving interpersonal relationships among members.

Typically, an organization specific teambuilding process includes:

Preliminary assessment through individual and group interviews
Administration of a Team Questionnaire to assess strengths and weaknesses
Presentation of relevant findings to the team
Discussion of suggested steps in the "teambuilding process"
Designing strategies to resolve teambuilding issues
Collaborative development of programs to foster ongoing team development
Follow-up sessions targeted at remaining problem areas

During the teambuilding process, disruptive issues affecting the team are discussed and confronted. This "team approach" to problem-solving is focused on reducing dysfunction and providing effective strategies for dealing with "non-team players." The consultant focuses on techniques aimed at resolving interpersonal conflicts and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of decision-making in a team setting.

In addition to overseeing and facilitating the teambuilding process, VLA consultants can design a teambuilding seminar specific to your organizational needs.