2. Ashley Burkhart
Leadership Development Plan
April 14, 2014
Leadership Development Plan
I am currently an Occupational Therapy Assistant, COTA. I work in a retirement
community in Lancaster County, and have been there for seven years. Over the past seven years
I have been given the opportunity to advance in my career by the rehab director giving me more
responsibility dealing with Medicare reimbursement tasks, MDS, and working
interdepartmentally.
In five years I see myself at a management level in therapy. I could also see myself
moving toward the business side of therapy, which could incorporate management. I would like
to still be involved in treatment and direct patient care. I think that it is important to continue to
treat patients even at a management level to really know what is going on.
In order to achieve these goals I will use different resources and education to get to the
management level. One resource will be networking. The therapy community in Lancaster is
small, so I will contact past co-workers and supervisors in the therapy and nursing communities
and network myself and my strengths. Education is very important. I will use my Healthcare
Science Bachelor’s degree to promote the different classes that I have taken and tie them
together with being a COTA and the past experiences I have had.
3. Ashley Burkhart
Leadership Development Plan
April 14, 2014
My New Leadership Learning Plan
Goal 1. Learn and maintain current regulations in regards to healthcare field
Action Steps:
1. Use past contacts and networks to
stay current.
2. Make new contacts to achieve work
related goals.
3. Join local and national organizations
to stay current.
Timeline:
1. 1-2 months
2. 1 year
3. 1-2 months
The timeline for these goals need to be completed quicker than other goals since therapy
and health guidelines change yearly.
Goal 2. Diversified job options
Action Steps:
1. Administrative tasks – not just
physical care.
2. Managerial task associated with direct
patient care.
3. Step outside of my comfort zone in
therapy and explore other health
related tasks.
Timeline:
1. 1-2 years
2. 1 year
3. 2-4 years
4. Ashley Burkhart
Leadership Development Plan
April 14, 2014
Goal 3. Voice my opinion on ethical situations
Action Steps:
1. Recall past experiences and how they
were positively or negatively dealt
with. I would review and see how I
would do things differently.
2. Use HCS management course as a
source on how to deal with workplace
issues.
3. Communicate with co-workers and
mentors at the same management level
to see how they handled a similar
situation.
Timeline:
1. 1-2 months
2. 1-2 months
3. 1-2 months
These goals also need to be addressed sooner rather than later for a timeline, of 1-2
months.
In conclusion, I would like to take these goals and act upon them within one to two years
of starting in a management position. I think my background in therapy and my education will
help me become a trustworthy, cooperative manager and will have the skills to act on unethical
and ethical situations in an appropriate manner.
