Managing, surviving, and thriving with health care consultants

Health care consultants have become commonplace, given the complexities, challenges, and economics of the industry. While outside expertise may be needed and welcomed, the very presence of consultants may pose its own challenges. Surviving in the era of health care consultants requires that nursing leaders clearly identify types of consultants, purposes of the engagement, roles (both the consultantsʹ and their own), and strategies to effectively manage the consultation. External expert consultants are brought in for many reasons, and their credibility is essential. However, no consultant is an expert in everything. When choosing one, look for an established expert in your specific area of interest who can build a custom plan. Avoid generic consultants that continually sell and resell off-the-shelf plans. Table 1 lists some of the major types of health care consultants, and this article describes each specialty in detail.