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Develop and support physician leaders

Hospitalist Leadership Connection, July 27, 2010

Organizations must recognize that physicians aren’t taught leadership skills in medical school. Thus, organizations must develop a curriculum and one or more vehicles for delivering this curriculum to current and developing leaders. This may include readings, on-site educational sessions, online learning modules, participation in broadcast events (e.g., audio conferences and webcasts), and off-site leadership training conferences. The organization may agree that if the physician dedicates time to pursuing leadership education (or possibly certification), the organization will assume some or all of the training costs.

For example, The Greeley Company offers Certified Medical Staff Leader (CMSL) program, designed for individuals who are new to leadership and want to achieve a minimum level of competence without having to commit to a long period of study. The CMSL program requires candidates to complete 25 contact hours of training in the subjects specified below.

Required curriculum for medical staff leadership certification:

• The roles and functions of today’s medical staff – 1.5 hours
• Credentialing and privileging – 2.5 hours
• Physician performance measurement and management – 5 hours
• Managing fair hearings and corrective action – 2 hours
• Public accountability for quality – 2 hours
• Patient safety and performance improvement – 1.5 hours
• Legal and regulatory requirements for medical staff and hospitals – 2.5 hours
• Healthcare finance – 1 hour
• Leadership skills for physicians (Conflict resolution, negotiation, and medication; change management; personal skill) – 5.5 hours
• Future trends that will affect physicians and hospitals – 1.5

Physician leaders interested in a more advanced level of training might consider becoming a Certified Physician Executive. This program, sponsored by the American College of Physician Executives, is a more in-depth certification program appropriate for physicians considering a career as a physician executive. The curriculum requires a minimum of 150 contact hours in specific management-oriented courses.

Finally, physicians interested in a leadership career can pursue an advanced degree program, such as a master’s degree in business administration, medical management, or in healthcare administration. These programs are offered by various colleges and universities across the country and can often be completed, at least in part, online.

The above excerpt is adapted from The Greeley Guide to Physician Employment and Contracting by William K. Cors, MD, MMM, FACPE, CMSL, and Richard A. Sheff, MD, CMSL, published by HCPro Inc. and the Greeley Medical Staff Institute. You can download a sample chapter here.

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