Wayne Sensor’s Immersive Approach To Nurturing Relationships and Establishing Trust
By Neill Marshall, Chairman, HealthSearch Partners and Kurt Mosley, Associations Practice Leader, HealthSearch Partners
Wayne Sensor (Pictured Above) has 30 years of executive experience, including CEO positions in hospital and health systems as well as leading private equity backed healthcare services companies. His broad knowledge of the healthcare industry and his leadership skills have enabled him to achieve exceptional results. Wayne has often been described as an authentic leader who rallies the work force around a vision, loads the bus with believers and drives results.
In this article in our series on innovative tactics for the first 90 days of leadership, we spotlight Wayne Sensor, a former CEO known for his bold hands-on approach to onboarding. His actions were straight forward and clear eyed as he deeply immersed himself in the daily operations of his healthcare facilities: joining surgical teams in the OR, conducting unannounced rounds, rounding with his family on Christmas Day, and implementing “Lunch with the CEO.”. These creative tactics allowed Sensor to build strong relationships, identify critical issues, and set the tone for a culture of engagement and continuous improvement.
This article highlights Sensor’s commitment to learning and understanding the in-the-moment pressures surgeons and their teams faced every time they scrub in.
Suiting Up, Scrubbing In, Searching For Insight
When Sensor took the reins at a new healthcare facility, one of his earliest actions was to immerse himself in the operating room. He was not merely an observer, rather an actively interested participant. After scrubbing in, he positioned himself next to the anesthesiologist or the patient’s head. He spent hours with the surgeons and OR team as they completed complex procedures, experiencing the same pressures and challenges they experienced.
This immersive approach allowed him to understand the intricacies of surgical workflows and the stress points faced by the OR staff. During one memorable cardiovascular surgery, Sensor witnessed a vein failure that resulted in a tense, life-or-death situation. “I experienced the tension firsthand as things went south,” he recalls. “It gave me a deep appreciation for what the surgical teams endure and created a bond with the surgeons that lasted for years.”
Sensor’s time in the OR wasn’t just symbolic—it led to actionable insights. Through this first-hand experience, he learned surgical packs often lacked essential instruments, causing frustration and inefficiency. He launched a review of the hospital’s surgical supply process using input from the surgeons. Sensor oversaw changes that streamlined the packaging of surgical instruments, resulting in smoother operations and fewer delays.
The Power of Personal Connection
Sensor’s commitment to developing a deep understanding of the culture and challenges of the OR reflects a more profound leadership philosophy rooted in the power of personal connection and direct engagement. By immersing himself in the operations of the surgery suite, Sensor demonstrated a genuine interest in understanding his team’s day-to-day experiences. This approach fostered a culture of openness and trust, where the OR staff felt comfortable sharing their insights and suggestions.
As Ivan Bartolome, CEO of HealthSearch Partners, puts it, “Immediately connecting with and establishing trust among staff is critical for leaders during their first 90 days because it lays a solid foundation for transformative change.” Sensor’s hours-long presence in the surgery suite sent an unmistakable message to the surgeons and surgery teams members – “I want to learn, I want to understand, I want to support you.”
Stay tuned for more stories from visionary healthcare leaders who are redefining the playbook for the first 90 days in leadership.
If you have adopted this tactic, or any others featured in this series, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact us to share your story.
