Send us a Message In this celebratory 100th episode of Culture Change RX, I reflect on the journey of the podcast since its inception in early 2024. The episode highlights key themes and subcategories discussed in previous episodes, focusing on improving the employee and patient experience in healthcare organizations. I emphasize the importance of organizational culture, employee engagement, leadership effectiveness, and communication in fostering a positive healthcare environment. Down...

Send us a Message In this episode of Culture Change RX, I discuss the importance of setting challenging goals within organizations. Soft goals do not lead to significant improvements and that setting hard goals can spark creativity, increase engagement, and surface underlying issues that need to be addressed. By aiming for ambitious targets, organizations can achieve more in less time and foster a culture of motivation and collaboration. I encourage you to embrace the challenge of setting big...

Send us a Message In this episode of Culture Change RX, Sue Tetzlaff, cofounder of Capstone Leadership Solutions, engages in conversation with one of Capstone’s transformational experts, Julie Coneset. They discuss the transformational assessment, planning, and coaching process at Capstone Leadership that makes up the early weeks of Phase One activities for healthcare organizations that are engaged in a Capstone partnership. They explore the importance of establishing a strong foundation for ...

Send us a Message In this episode of Culture Change RX, Sue Tetzlaff, cofounder of Capstone Leadership Solutions, discusses the emotional toll on healthcare workers due to staffing losses and the systemic issues affecting the workforce. Sue emphasizes the importance of the 'people pillar' in healthcare, arguing that without strong support for staff, healthcare systems cannot thrive. Sue calls for healthcare leaders to prioritize their people, rebuild trust, and create systems that support eng...

Send us a Message In this episode of Culture Change RX, Sue Tetzlaff, cofounder of Capstone Leadership Solutions, discusses the unique advantages of small and rural healthcare organizations. She emphasizes the strengths of relationships, agility, and community loyalty, arguing that these factors contribute to a strategic advantage in the healthcare sector. Sue shares insights on how small organizations can leverage their size to foster deeper connections, adapt quickly to changes, and ultimat...

Send us a Message In this episode of Culture Change RX, Sue Tetzlaff, cofounder of Capstone Leadership Solutions, explores the significant benefits of setting a master calendar of key activities and events for the year ahead, highlighting how it improves culture and trust, momentum, efficiency, strategic clarity, and better results (e.g., improvement, growth). The discussion emphasizes the importance of pro-actively determining how best to spend your time, aligned with top strategic prioritie...

Send us a Message In this episode of Culture Change RX, Sue Tetzlaff explores the role of the medical staff in becoming the provider of choice through cultural transformation. She emphasizes that while medical staff engagement is crucial, the primary focus should be on creating systems that enhance the providers, staff, and patient experiences. By addressing workplace culture and improving communication, hospitals can create a positive environment that benefits both providers and patients. Su...

Send us a Message In this episode of Culture Change RX, Sue Tetzlaff and Doug Morse discuss the complexities and challenges faced by rural healthcare organizations. They explore the importance of strategic planning, optimizing existing services, and making informed decisions to drive growth and improve patient care. The conversation emphasizes the need for clarity in strategy and the effective use of existing resources. Doug shares actionable insights for healthcare leaders to navigate uncert...

Send us a Message In this episode of Culture Change RX, Sue Tetzlaff interviews Stephanie Senger, founder of Rural Staffing Services, who shares her journey in healthcare recruitment for rural hospitals. The conversation explores the importance of building relationships with clients and candidates, innovative staffing solutions, and the significance of community support in rural healthcare. Stephanie discusses the Good Neighbor Project, mental health awareness in recruitment, and her aspirati...

Send us a Message In this episode of Culture Change RX, Sue Tetzlaff explores how certain strategic decisions become turning points that forever change the future of an organization. She shares how courageous leaders move beyond incremental improvements to make trajectory-changing moves—decisions that blend clarity, courage, and execution. Listeners will gain insight into how Capstone Leadership partners with healthcare organizations to help them align strategy and execution, ensuring that th...

Send us a Message CEO Ben Davis provides his fifth quarterly update on the happenings of Glencoe Regional Health’s Experience Initiative which is targeted at improving access to care and elevating the patient, resident, and employee experiences. Leaders aim to leave a lasting impact on their organizations.Community involvement evolves as healthcare leaders and employees learn new skills as part of the Experience Initiative.Leadership development fosters a culture of accountability.Measuring...

Send us a Message In this episode of Culture Change RX, Sue Tetzlaff discusses the essential elements of developing high-performing teams in healthcare. She emphasizes that high performance is a continuous journey rather than a destination. She highlights the importance of distinguishing between behavior, performance, and contributions. Sue outlines leadership practices that foster team growth, the significance of feedback, and the need for leaders to engage in meaningful conversations with t...

Send us a Message In this episode of Culture Change RX, Sue Tetzlaff and Natasha Todorovic-Cowan explore the multifaceted topic of change management. Natasha shares her journey into the field, emphasizing the importance of understanding human nature and change readiness. They discuss the untapped potential within organizations, the significance of creating structures for employee engagement, and the necessity of customization in change initiatives. The conversation also touches on hard truths...

Send us a Message In this episode of Culture Change RX, Capstone’s Cofounder & CEO Sue Tetzlaff unpacks a common pattern in healthcare organizations: one leader or department excelling while the rest of the hospital struggles to keep up. These bright spots, while encouraging, are often fragile and siloed. Sue contrasts this episodic excellence with the power of systemic success—when every leader, every team, and every department is aligned and performing at high levels. Episodic excelle...

Send us a Message In this Culture Byte episode of Culture Change RX, Capstone’s Cofounder & CEO Sue Tetzlaff shares a Story That Inspires about the power of goal-setting. Sue explains how setting and achieving goals not only helps organizations reach targets but also elevates the behavior, performance, and contributions of individuals and teams. By engaging employees in goal-setting, leaders create a pathway to cultural transformation—turning “this is how we do things around here” into “t...

Send us a Message In this Culture Byte episode of Culture Change RX, Capstone’s Cofounder & CEO Sue Tetzlaff shares a Story That Inspires about one of the simplest yet most effective leadership tactics: writing thank you notes. She emphasizes that appreciation should not be a one-off initiative but a regular, heartfelt practice. Leaders who consistently recognize employees connect their efforts to organizational impact, fostering motivation and loyalty. This short episode serves as both a...

Send us a Message In this Culture Byte episode of Culture Change RX, Sue Tetzlaff engages in conversation with Halle Pardun (full time hospital Marketing Director and part time Capstone Coach) about the importance of community mindedness in community hospitals. They discuss the role of an employee-driven community team, employee volunteerism, intentional marketing strategies, and their Quest for Excellence initiative aimed at improving and growing healthcare services. Halle shares insights on...

Send us a Message In this Culture Byte episode of Culture Change RX, Capstone’s Cofounder & CEO Sue Tetzlaff discusses the critical importance of service excellence in healthcare. She emphasizes that exceptional patient experiences should be safe, satisfying, and consistent across all interactions. Drawing parallels with the hospitality industry, particularly the Grand Hotel, she illustrates how high standards can be achieved through organization-wide commitment, employee engagement and l...

Send us a Message In this episode of Culture Change Rx, Sue Tetzlaff engaged in conversation with Michelle Franklin, CEO of Sullivan County Community Hospital in Sullivan, Indiana, to discuss the importance of mission, vision, and values in the context of a community hospital. They explore how these elements evolve over time, particularly in response to organizational growth and community needs. Michelle shares insights from her experience as CEO, emphasizing the significance of engaging stak...

Send us a Message In this episode of Culture Change RX, Sue Tetzlaff discusses the impacts of financial uncertainty on workplace culture, particularly in healthcare organizations. She emphasizes the importance of trust in leadership, employee engagement, and the need for transparency and education to navigate financial challenges. Tetzlaff shares strategies for overcoming these challenges, including the implementation of systems like goal cycles and employee-driven teams, to foster a healthie...