Description

Several lines of evidence suggest that effective physician leadership will be an important part of the coming changes to the delivery of health care in the United States. Many factors contribute to low physician morale.

1. Physicians face economic pressures that place a greater emphasis on patient volume, while requiring more administrative time spent per 
patient. Physicians also perceive an erosion of societal support, loss of value for physician practice, and negative media attention.

2. Once a field of solo practitioners with significant independence and autonomy, many physicians now work in multispecialty groups as employees with
minimal control over their work environment.3 These factors contribute to high levels of physician dissatisfaction with the practice of medicine during a
time when many specialties are experiencing a physician shortage.

3. Physicians are selected and trained to have strong clinical and decision-making abilities, but they often lack vital leadership skills that would help them
better cope with today’s model of practicing medicine.

4. Today’s physician leaders need expertise in managing people, budgets, quality and safety, and external relations. In the past, recommendations for
potential leaders were often based on specialty training, clinical reputation, and academic affiliations. Now the complexity of health care requires leaders
with far greater breadth of experience and skills.