Quorum’s Pat Cooper on
Fostering a Culture
of Lifelong Learning
Stephen McClure
Marketing Manager, Content
HealthStream
Rapid changes in clinical best practices, leadership and management roles, and regulatory and reimbursement issues have
left healthcare organizations with some related challenges. Here are some that are especially important:
1. How do they keep employees current in a rapidly evolving environment?
2. How do they foster lifelong learning in their organizations?
3. How do they foster an environment in which lifelong learners can thrive?
Recently, HealthStream sat down with Patricia Cooper, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, Vice President of Clinical Operations for
Quorum Health Resources (Quorum). Quorum is a well-known, 30-year-old integrated professional services company,
providing both for-profit and not-for-profit hospital management and consulting services. They also provide lifelong learning
for their employees as well as tools and strategies for their clients to support lifelong learning programs for their employees.
In addition, The Quorum Learning Institute educates more than 10,000 healthcare professionals each year.
What follows are the insights shared by Cooper during this interview.
HSTM: What, in your opinion, is the employer’s role in
fostering lifelong learning?
Cooper: Essentially, if a company has human capital, they
understand that capital determines their success. People
want to do a good job, continually improve, and be
successful, which is why offering lifelong learning
opportunities should be a priority for employees and
organizations alike. Further, providing this type of positive
environment fosters professional growth as well as provides
opportunities for the organization to achieve its goals.
HSTM: Do employees have a role in this as well?
Cooper: Yes, the engaged employee wants to continually
develop their craft. Conversely, the unengaged employee
is not open to new ideas and is also unlikely to perform
tasks outside of their defined roles.
I come from a nursing background, and I remember
meeting some nurses who were only focused on their
to-do lists. Once assigned tasks were completed, they
went home. On the other hand, some nurses went
beyond the tasks at hand and were focused on the big
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