Physician Engagement Perspective:
Make it Easy to Put Change Into Practice

Commentary by Dr. John Combes, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, American Hospital Association, President, Center for Healthcare Governance

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Succeeding in the current health care environment will require administrators and clinicians to engage and work together more than ever before. They will be challenged to lead a more effective and efficient delivery system focused on quality through teamwork and collaboration, while meeting the unique care needs of their community.

Physicians are focused on providing the best care possible to every patient. By supporting physicians’ day-to-day practice needs, health systems and clinicians can work together to transform the delivery system. Appealing to physicians’ professionalism and their desire to make the system better for patients will help drive this transformation. By assisting physicians in creating accountable groups focused on clinical quality, safety and efficiency, the overall health care delivery system can meet the needs of each patient.

Physicians face multiple challenges, from keeping up with exponential growth in clinical information to the increasing regulatory demands of running a practice — all of which take time away from direct patient care. As delivery system transformation continues, physicians will need structures and organizations to support their practices and continuous improvement efforts. While these frameworks should support physicians’ practices, they should not impede clinical autonomy or add to the burdens of running a practice. Physicians want to do what is best for their patients, but as with clinical shifts, are skeptical of change without evidence. By providing a pathway to integrate change into the daily practice, as well as evidence of efficacy, you can engage physicians and achieve remarkable results.

 

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