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Pursuing RHT opportunities that are not in strategic alignment can create “strategy creep” or “strategy swap” scenarios that likely won’t play out well in the short or long term

In this episode of Culture Change RX, Sue Tetzlaff explores a critical strategy challenge facing rural healthcare organizations today: how to navigate the massive Rural Health Transformation (RHT) opportunity without losing strategic focus.

With $50 billion in funding, multi-organization collaboratives, and increasing pressure to participate, healthcare leaders are being presented with more opportunities than ever before. But as Sue shares from her decades of experience as a healthcare strategist, not every opportunity is strategic.

This episode introduces two key risks organizations must guard against:

• Strategy Creep — layering new initiatives on top of existing priorities, stretching teams thin and reducing execution quality
• Strategy Swap — replacing carefully developed strategic priorities with externally funded initiatives that may not align with the organization’s true needs

Sue emphasizes that while funding can accelerate strategy, it should never define it. Instead, organizations must stay grounded in their mission, their community’s needs, and their clearly defined strategic priorities.

She also shares practical decision filters to help leaders evaluate which opportunities to pursue — and which to pass on — so they can maintain focus, protect their teams, and achieve meaningful, lasting results:

1. Does this directly advance one of our top strategic priorities on our plan?
2. What are we going to need to stop or de-prioritize to make room for this?
3. Do we have the execution systems and capacity to do all of this well?
4. Are we leading our strategy or letting available funding lead us? 

Navigating RHT decisions and want a strategic sounding board? Reach out to schedule a call with Sue or Doug at Capstone Leadership Solutions - [email protected]

We’re stepping forward in a bigger way—growing our team of rural healthcare experts, growing our capabilities by adding a strategic planning division … all of this so we can expand our ability to help even more rural hospitals and other small healthcare organizations in 2026. … We’d love to explore how we can support your organization in being the provider- and employer-of-choice so you can keep care local and margins strong! Learn more at CaptoneLeadership.net

Learn more and register for the 2026 Healthcare Executive Forum - We look forward to seeing you on June 17-18 in Madison, Wisconsin!

Hi! I’m Sue Tetzlaff. I’m a culture and execution strategist for small and rural healthcare organizations - helping them to be the provider and employer-of-choice so they can keep care local and margins strong.

For decades, I’ve worked with healthcare organizations to navigate the people-side of healthcare, the part that can make or break your results. What I’ve learned is this: culture is not a soft thing. It’s the hardest thing, and it determines everything.

When you’re ready to take your culture to the next level, here are three ways I can help you:

1. Listen to the Culture Change RX Podcast
Every week, I share conversations with leaders who are transforming healthcare workplaces and strategies for keeping teams engaged, patients loyal, and margins healthy.

2. Subscribe to our Email Newsletter
Get practical tips, frameworks, and leadership tools delivered right to your inbox—plus exclusive content you won’t find on the podcast.
📩 Subscribe here

3. Break through to the next level of greatness in your organization with help from my team and me.
When you’re ready to be the provider and employer-of-choice, we’ll help you implement proven frameworks that strengthen culture, improve experience and ensure your organization thrives.
You can email me at [email protected] and put “BREAKTHROUGH” in the subject line and I’ll get you all the details.

Send us a Message

In this episode of Culture Change RX, Sue Tetzlaff is joined by Capstone’s Chief Transformation Officer, Courtney Kloehn, to explore what it really means to build a data-driven culture in healthcare organizations. While many organizations collect and report data, far fewer use it effectively to guide decisions, align teams, and drive meaningful improvement. Sue and Courtney discuss how organizations can move beyond simply reviewing data to using it as a tool for action, ownership, and continuous advancement.

Courtney also shares a practical data-driven initiatives worksheet designed to help teams identify opportunities, align with organizational priorities, and create more impactful action plans.

Here is the link to the “Data Driven Initiatives Worksheet” referenced in this episode.

Past episodes with Capstone’s Chief Transformation Officer, Courtney Kloehn:

• Better Behaviors, Better Workplaces
• Time Well Spent: The Power of the 5P Model
• Feedback:  Fuel for Further Growth
• From Event to Execution: Making Leadership Learning Count
• Common Senior Team Dysfunctions

We’re stepping forward in a bigger way—growing our team of rural healthcare experts, growing our capabilities by adding a strategic planning division … all of this so we can expand our ability to help even more rural hospitals and other small healthcare organizations in 2026. … We’d love to explore how we can support your organization in being the provider- and employer-of-choice so you can keep care local and margins strong! Learn more at CaptoneLeadership.net

Learn more and register for the 2026 Healthcare Executive Forum - We look forward to seeing you on June 17-18 in Madison, Wisconsin!

Hi! I’m Sue Tetzlaff. I’m a culture and execution strategist for small and rural healthcare organizations - helping them to be the provider and employer-of-choice so they can keep care local and margins strong.

For decades, I’ve worked with healthcare organizations to navigate the people-side of healthcare, the part that can make or break your results. What I’ve learned is this: culture is not a soft thing. It’s the hardest thing, and it determines everything.

When you’re ready to take your culture to the next level, here are three ways I can help you:

1. Listen to the Culture Change RX Podcast
Every week, I share conversations with leaders who are transforming healthcare workplaces and strategies for keeping teams engaged, patients loyal, and margins healthy.

2. Subscribe to our Email Newsletter
Get practical tips, frameworks, and leadership tools delivered right to your inbox—plus exclusive content you won’t find on the podcast.
📩 Subscribe here

3. Break through to the next level of greatness in your organization with help from my team and me.
When you’re ready to be the provider and employer-of-choice, we’ll help you implement proven frameworks that strengthen culture, improve experience and ensure your organization thrives.
You can email me at [email protected] and put “BREAKTHROUGH” in the subject line and I’ll get you all the details.

Send us a Message

In this episode of Culture Change RX, Sue Tetzlaff discusses the importance of foundational strength in rural healthcare organizations. She emphasizes how strengthening people, service, and quality creates organizational vitality, magnetism for talent and patients, and sustainable growth.

Ready to strengthen your organization’s foundation and become a magnet for talent and growth?

Schedule a complimentary discovery call series with the Capstone team:

CapstoneLeadership.net/Contact-Us

We’re stepping forward in a bigger way—growing our team of rural healthcare experts, growing our capabilities by adding a strategic planning division … all of this so we can expand our ability to help even more rural hospitals and other small healthcare organizations in 2026. … We’d love to explore how we can support your organization in being the provider- and employer-of-choice so you can keep care local and margins strong! Learn more at CaptoneLeadership.net

Learn more and register for the 2026 Healthcare Executive Forum - We look forward to seeing you on June 17-18 in Madison, Wisconsin!

Hi! I’m Sue Tetzlaff. I’m a culture and execution strategist for small and rural healthcare organizations - helping them to be the provider and employer-of-choice so they can keep care local and margins strong.

For decades, I’ve worked with healthcare organizations to navigate the people-side of healthcare, the part that can make or break your results. What I’ve learned is this: culture is not a soft thing. It’s the hardest thing, and it determines everything.

When you’re ready to take your culture to the next level, here are three ways I can help you:

1. Listen to the Culture Change RX Podcast
Every week, I share conversations with leaders who are transforming healthcare workplaces and strategies for keeping teams engaged, patients loyal, and margins healthy.

2. Subscribe to our Email Newsletter
Get practical tips, frameworks, and leadership tools delivered right to your inbox—plus exclusive content you won’t find on the podcast.
📩 Subscribe here

3. Break through to the next level of greatness in your organization with help from my team and me.
When you’re ready to be the provider and employer-of-choice, we’ll help you implement proven frameworks that strengthen culture, improve experience and ensure your organization thrives.
You can email me at [email protected] and put “BREAKTHROUGH” in the subject line and I’ll get you all the details.

Send us a Message

In this episode of Culture Change RX, host Sue Tetzlaff and guest Christy Pretzinger delve into the concept of BETTER Quotient™ (BQ) and its significance in leadership. Christy shares her journey of understanding the importance of continuous improvement and vulnerability in leadership roles. They discuss the relationship between BQ and growth mindset, the necessity of self-awareness, and the value of soft skills in the workplace. Christy introduces a three-step process for applying BQ in daily interactions, emphasizing the importance of pausing, anchoring, and choosing better actions. The conversation highlights the privilege and responsibility of leadership, encouraging listeners to embrace personal development as a pathway to organizational growth.

• Soft skills are predictors of success in the workplace.
• The pause is a gift to avoid regrettable actions.
• Self-awareness is crucial for effective leadership.
• Leadership voice carries weight and responsibility.

Connect with Christy Pretzinger and WG Content
[email protected]
The Better Leader Project
christypretzinger.com
WGContent.com

We’re stepping forward in a bigger way—growing our team of rural healthcare experts, growing our capabilities by adding a strategic planning division … all of this so we can expand our ability to help even more rural hospitals and other small healthcare organizations in 2026. … We’d love to explore how we can support your organization in being the provider- and employer-of-choice so you can keep care local and margins strong! Learn more at CaptoneLeadership.net

Learn more and register for the 2026 Healthcare Executive Forum - We look forward to seeing you on June 17-18 in Madison, Wisconsin!

Hi! I’m Sue Tetzlaff. I’m a culture and execution strategist for small and rural healthcare organizations - helping them to be the provider and employer-of-choice so they can keep care local and margins strong.

For decades, I’ve worked with healthcare organizations to navigate the people-side of healthcare, the part that can make or break your results. What I’ve learned is this: culture is not a soft thing. It’s the hardest thing, and it determines everything.

When you’re ready to take your culture to the next level, here are three ways I can help you:

1. Listen to the Culture Change RX Podcast
Every week, I share conversations with leaders who are transforming healthcare workplaces and strategies for keeping teams engaged, patients loyal, and margins healthy.

2. Subscribe to our Email Newsletter
Get practical tips, frameworks, and leadership tools delivered right to your inbox—plus exclusive content you won’t find on the podcast.
📩 Subscribe here

3. Break through to the next level of greatness in your organization with help from my team and me.
When you’re ready to be the provider and employer-of-choice, we’ll help you implement proven frameworks that strengthen culture, improve experience and ensure your organization thrives.
You can email me at [email protected] and put “BREAKTHROUGH” in the subject line and I’ll get you all the details.

Send us a Message

In this episode of Culture Change RX, Sue Tetzlaff and Julie Coneset discuss the importance of meaningful celebrations, focusing on the 'why' behind recognition efforts, and share practical ideas and a comprehensive celebration guide to foster a culture of celebration in healthcare settings.

How to get your guide to creating meaningful Hospital Week and other celebrations: Email [email protected] and request CELEBRATION GUIDE

We’re stepping forward in a bigger way—growing our team of rural healthcare experts, growing our capabilities by adding a strategic planning division … all of this so we can expand our ability to help even more rural hospitals and other small healthcare organizations in 2026. … We’d love to explore how we can support your organization in being the provider- and employer-of-choice so you can keep care local and margins strong! Learn more at CaptoneLeadership.net

Learn more and register for the 2026 Healthcare Executive Forum - We look forward to seeing you on June 17-18 in Madison, Wisconsin!

Hi! I’m Sue Tetzlaff. I’m a culture and execution strategist for small and rural healthcare organizations - helping them to be the provider and employer-of-choice so they can keep care local and margins strong.

For decades, I’ve worked with healthcare organizations to navigate the people-side of healthcare, the part that can make or break your results. What I’ve learned is this: culture is not a soft thing. It’s the hardest thing, and it determines everything.

When you’re ready to take your culture to the next level, here are three ways I can help you:

1. Listen to the Culture Change RX Podcast
Every week, I share conversations with leaders who are transforming healthcare workplaces and strategies for keeping teams engaged, patients loyal, and margins healthy.

2. Subscribe to our Email Newsletter
Get practical tips, frameworks, and leadership tools delivered right to your inbox—plus exclusive content you won’t find on the podcast.
📩 Subscribe here

3. Break through to the next level of greatness in your organization with help from my team and me.
When you’re ready to be the provider and employer-of-choice, we’ll help you implement proven frameworks that strengthen culture, improve experience and ensure your organization thrives.
You can email me at [email protected] and put “BREAKTHROUGH” in the subject line and I’ll get you all the details.

Send us a Message

In this episode of Culture Change RX, Sue Tetzlaff explores the nine essential 'ITs' of customer service excellence in healthcare. She emphasizes that building a multi-faceted systematic approach, rather than just providing training, is key to achieving sustainable service quality and patient satisfaction.

Quotes from the episode: 

• “Exceptional service is not created by training alone — it is created by systems.”
• “Organizations that excel in service don’t just focus on patients — they invest equally in their people.”
• “Service excellence is not the end goal — it is part of something bigger: organizational vitality.”
• “Leadership behavior sets the ceiling for the organization.”
• “We have to move from training for service… to building systems for service excellence.”
• “A strong employee experience enables a strong patient experience.”
• “Data should drive improvement — not overwhelm, punish, or confuse.”
• “Service excellence is not a service initiative — it is a people-plus-systems outcome.”

We’re stepping forward in a bigger way—growing our team of rural healthcare experts, growing our capabilities by adding a strategic planning division … all of this so we can expand our ability to help even more rural hospitals and other small healthcare organizations in 2026. … We’d love to explore how we can support your organization in being the provider- and employer-of-choice so you can keep care local and margins strong! Learn more at CaptoneLeadership.net

Learn more and register for the 2026 Healthcare Executive Forum - We look forward to seeing you on June 17-18 in Madison, Wisconsin!

Hi! I’m Sue Tetzlaff. I’m a culture and execution strategist for small and rural healthcare organizations - helping them to be the provider and employer-of-choice so they can keep care local and margins strong.

For decades, I’ve worked with healthcare organizations to navigate the people-side of healthcare, the part that can make or break your results. What I’ve learned is this: culture is not a soft thing. It’s the hardest thing, and it determines everything.

When you’re ready to take your culture to the next level, here are three ways I can help you:

1. Listen to the Culture Change RX Podcast
Every week, I share conversations with leaders who are transforming healthcare workplaces and strategies for keeping teams engaged, patients loyal, and margins healthy.

2. Subscribe to our Email Newsletter
Get practical tips, frameworks, and leadership tools delivered right to your inbox—plus exclusive content you won’t find on the podcast.
📩 Subscribe here

3. Break through to the next level of greatness in your organization with help from my team and me.
When you’re ready to be the provider and employer-of-choice, we’ll help you implement proven frameworks that strengthen culture, improve experience and ensure your organization thrives.
You can email me at [email protected] and put “BREAKTHROUGH” in the subject line and I’ll get you all the details.

Send us a Message

In this episode of Culture Change RX, Sue Tetzlaff sits down with healthcare security expert Tony York to explore the evolving role of safety and security in healthcare environments.

Tony shares insights from more than three decades in healthcare security, discussing how the challenges facing hospitals today are very different from those of the past. From workplace violence and behavioral health challenges to evolving technology and building design, healthcare organizations must now take a much more proactive and strategic approach to protecting their staff, patients, and visitors.

The conversation highlights why security should not simply be viewed as guards or enforcement, but as a system designed to support a therapeutic care environment where staff can focus on delivering care and patients can feel safe receiving it. Sue and Tony also discuss how leaders can begin building a culture of shared responsibility for maintaining safe healthcare environments.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Connect with Tony York on LinkedIn

Connect with PalAmerican Security (US) or Paladin Security (Canada)

Resources available at International Association for Healthcare Security & Safety  IAHSS.org

IAHSS Conference - New Orleans - April 12-14, 2026

Purchase the book

We’re stepping forward in a bigger way—growing our team of rural healthcare experts, growing our capabilities by adding a strategic planning division … all of this so we can expand our ability to help even more rural hospitals and other small healthcare organizations in 2026. … We’d love to explore how we can support your organization in being the provider- and employer-of-choice so you can keep care local and margins strong! Learn more at CaptoneLeadership.net

Learn more and register for the 2026 Healthcare Executive Forum - We look forward to seeing you on June 17-18 in Madison, Wisconsin!

Hi! I’m Sue Tetzlaff. I’m a culture and execution strategist for small and rural healthcare organizations - helping them to be the provider and employer-of-choice so they can keep care local and margins strong.

For decades, I’ve worked with healthcare organizations to navigate the people-side of healthcare, the part that can make or break your results. What I’ve learned is this: culture is not a soft thing. It’s the hardest thing, and it determines everything.

When you’re ready to take your culture to the next level, here are three ways I can help you:

1. Listen to the Culture Change RX Podcast
Every week, I share conversations with leaders who are transforming healthcare workplaces and strategies for keeping teams engaged, patients loyal, and margins healthy.

2. Subscribe to our Email Newsletter
Get practical tips, frameworks, and leadership tools delivered right to your inbox—plus exclusive content you won’t find on the podcast.
📩 Subscribe here

3. Break through to the next level of greatness in your organization with help from my team and me.
When you’re ready to be the provider and employer-of-choice, we’ll help you implement proven frameworks that strengthen culture, improve experience and ensure your organization thrives.
You can email me at [email protected] and put “BREAKTHROUGH” in the subject line and I’ll get you all the details.

Send us a Message

In this episode of Culture Change RX, Sue Tetzlaff, cofounder of Capstone Leadership Solutions, engages in conversation with Chris Benson from Juniper Advisory about the complexities of healthcare partnerships, particularly in the context of mergers and acquisitions. They discuss the cultural implications of these partnerships, the current trends in hospital consolidations, and navigating the decision-making processes. 

• Healthcare partnerships can take many forms.
• The decision to partner should be driven by community needs and organizational goals.
• Many hospitals are still independent, but consolidation is a growing trend.
• Understanding the motivations behind mergers can help boards make informed decisions.
• The process of exploring partnerships can take several months and requires careful planning.
• Engaging stakeholders early in the process is crucial for success.
• Maintaining a focus on quality care is essential for any partnership. 

If you would like to connect with Chris or learn more about Juniper Advisory, you can find them here:
🔗 https://juniperadvisory.com
🔗 Connect with Chris on LinkedIn 

We’re stepping forward in a bigger way—growing our team of rural healthcare experts, growing our capabilities by adding a strategic planning division … all of this so we can expand our ability to help even more rural hospitals and other small healthcare organizations in 2026. … We’d love to explore how we can support your organization in being the provider- and employer-of-choice so you can keep care local and margins strong! Learn more at CaptoneLeadership.net

Learn more and register for the 2026 Healthcare Executive Forum - We look forward to seeing you on June 17-18 in Madison, Wisconsin!

Hi! I’m Sue Tetzlaff. I’m a culture and execution strategist for small and rural healthcare organizations - helping them to be the provider and employer-of-choice so they can keep care local and margins strong.

For decades, I’ve worked with healthcare organizations to navigate the people-side of healthcare, the part that can make or break your results. What I’ve learned is this: culture is not a soft thing. It’s the hardest thing, and it determines everything.

When you’re ready to take your culture to the next level, here are three ways I can help you:

1. Listen to the Culture Change RX Podcast
Every week, I share conversations with leaders who are transforming healthcare workplaces and strategies for keeping teams engaged, patients loyal, and margins healthy.

2. Subscribe to our Email Newsletter
Get practical tips, frameworks, and leadership tools delivered right to your inbox—plus exclusive content you won’t find on the podcast.
📩 Subscribe here

3. Break through to the next level of greatness in your organization with help from my team and me.
When you’re ready to be the provider and employer-of-choice, we’ll help you implement proven frameworks that strengthen culture, improve experience and ensure your organization thrives.
You can email me at [email protected] and put “BREAKTHROUGH” in the subject line and I’ll get you all the details.

Send us a Message

In this episode of Culture Change RX, Sue Tetzlaff, cofounder of Capstone Leadership Solutions, discusses how healthcare leaders can transform their leadership approach to reduce their stress, frustration, and dissatisfaction, improve their results, and even feel re-energized for this meaningful work. She emphasizes that there is a disconnect between leadership effort and results which is the likely source of leadership turnover and burnout. Sue introduces two solutions: 1) the “leadership bundle” (a new way of working for leaders); and 2) a focus on fewer, high-priority goals (a new way of focusing a leader’s work). 

• Understanding the root cause of leadership turnover and burnout
• Dissatisfaction and stress comes from a disconnect between effort and results
• There is a better way for leaders to work more effectively with less stress and more satisfaction
• Narrowing the focus can achieve greater impact

For leaders to learn a better way to work — with more focus, less stress, and stronger results, register for the upcoming virtual Capstone Leadership Summit starting on April 7th. Details are available here. Or email [email protected] to inquire. 

A past podcast episode, 4 Hidden Upsides to Challenging Goals, was mentioned in this episode.

We’re stepping forward in a bigger way—growing our team of rural healthcare experts, growing our capabilities by adding a strategic planning division … all of this so we can expand our ability to help even more rural hospitals and other small healthcare organizations in 2026. … We’d love to explore how we can support your organization in being the provider- and employer-of-choice so you can keep care local and margins strong! Learn more at CaptoneLeadership.net

Learn more and register for the 2026 Healthcare Executive Forum - We look forward to seeing you on June 17-18 in Madison, Wisconsin!

Hi! I’m Sue Tetzlaff. I’m a culture and execution strategist for small and rural healthcare organizations - helping them to be the provider and employer-of-choice so they can keep care local and margins strong.

For decades, I’ve worked with healthcare organizations to navigate the people-side of healthcare, the part that can make or break your results. What I’ve learned is this: culture is not a soft thing. It’s the hardest thing, and it determines everything.

When you’re ready to take your culture to the next level, here are three ways I can help you:

1. Listen to the Culture Change RX Podcast
Every week, I share conversations with leaders who are transforming healthcare workplaces and strategies for keeping teams engaged, patients loyal, and margins healthy.

2. Subscribe to our Email Newsletter
Get practical tips, frameworks, and leadership tools delivered right to your inbox—plus exclusive content you won’t find on the podcast.
📩 Subscribe here

3. Break through to the next level of greatness in your organization with help from my team and me.
When you’re ready to be the provider and employer-of-choice, we’ll help you implement proven frameworks that strengthen culture, improve experience and ensure your organization thrives.
You can email me at [email protected] and put “BREAKTHROUGH” in the subject line and I’ll get you all the details.

Send us a Message

In this episode of Culture Change RX, Sue Tetzlaff and Ben Davis discuss the transformative journey, “The Experience Initiative,” of Glencoe Regional Health. They explore the importance of leadership development, establishing a goal cycle, empowering employee-driven teams, and navigating change in a healthcare organization. The conversation emphasizes the need for proactive leadership and the significance of self-care in fostering an agile and resilient organizational culture. 

• The Experience Initiative supports the organization’s aims to be the provider and employer of choice, to keep care local and margins strong.
• Establishing a goal cycle aligns organizational efforts with strategic priorities.
• Employee-driven teams foster ownership and engagement in initiatives.
• Navigating change requires commitment and resilience from leadership.
• Slowing down and shifting from reactive to proactive can enhance effectiveness and reduce burnout.

We’re stepping forward in a bigger way—growing our team of rural healthcare experts, growing our capabilities by adding a strategic planning division … all of this so we can expand our ability to help even more rural hospitals and other small healthcare organizations in 2026. … We’d love to explore how we can support your organization in being the provider- and employer-of-choice so you can keep care local and margins strong! Learn more at CaptoneLeadership.net

Learn more and register for the 2026 Healthcare Executive Forum - We look forward to seeing you on June 17-18 in Madison, Wisconsin!

Hi! I’m Sue Tetzlaff. I’m a culture and execution strategist for small and rural healthcare organizations - helping them to be the provider and employer-of-choice so they can keep care local and margins strong.

For decades, I’ve worked with healthcare organizations to navigate the people-side of healthcare, the part that can make or break your results. What I’ve learned is this: culture is not a soft thing. It’s the hardest thing, and it determines everything.

When you’re ready to take your culture to the next level, here are three ways I can help you:

1. Listen to the Culture Change RX Podcast
Every week, I share conversations with leaders who are transforming healthcare workplaces and strategies for keeping teams engaged, patients loyal, and margins healthy.

2. Subscribe to our Email Newsletter
Get practical tips, frameworks, and leadership tools delivered right to your inbox—plus exclusive content you won’t find on the podcast.
📩 Subscribe here

3. Break through to the next level of greatness in your organization with help from my team and me.
When you’re ready to be the provider and employer-of-choice, we’ll help you implement proven frameworks that strengthen culture, improve experience and ensure your organization thrives.
You can email me at [email protected] and put “BREAKTHROUGH” in the subject line and I’ll get you all the details.