Senior Management Succession Challenges for U.S. Healthcare Facility Operations

Abstract

ABSTRACT Purpose The purpose of this research was to better understand current state of mid- and senior-level healthcare facility managers to explore potential roadblocks to FM succession related to demographics, backgrounds, and perceptions in supporting future research prioritization for healthcare facility executive leadership development. Methodology A survey was designed to collect information on facility managers’ gender, race, age, job level, employer industry, retirement timeframe, educational attainment, and perceptions of their employers’ recruiting and succession planning. The survey was sent electronically in February 2021 to more than 12,400 FM professionals with a 29% response rate. Only information from U.S. respondents working in healthcare facility operations was used in this study. Findings The healthcare industry is struggling to attract and retain senior-level facility managers. The difficulty in finding qualified facility managers to fill senior-level positions does not appear to be related to a lack of interested candidates or pay. Factors impeding recurring facility workforce development and succession to senior healthcare FM roles may be related to low succession planning adoption by healthcare organizations, an aged facility workforce, and limited undergraduate education achievement from traditional candidates. Originality Healthcare organizations may prioritize these factors in addressing ongoing FM workforce attrition and development challenges to ensure a sustainable pipeline of qualified facility managers prepared to successfully navigate the unique expectations of leading the healthcare built environment.