Knowledge of the healthcare environment.

WH AT T H I S C O M P E T E N C Y E N TA I L S The Healthcare Leadership Alliance (HLA) defines this competency as “the demonstrated understanding of the health care system and the environment in which health care managers and providers function.” According to HLA’s research, this competency involves 18 areas that are particularly important for healthcare leaders to master. These areas can be organized into four general themes or levels of analysis: customers, staff, systems, and community/environment.