Medical Staff

Tip of the week: Use staff physicians as mentors

Hospitalist Leadership Connection, January 25, 2011

When it comes to the key items new hospitalists need to know to succeed in their organizations, no one on the medical staff knows better than current hospitalists. Consider giving them a large role in a new hospitalist’s first weeks on the job, in addition to having them do the typical rounds with new staff hospitalists.

Mentoring also plays an important role in a hospitalist program’s success. Carefully select a mentor for each new hospitalist; that person will help determine the overall success of the orientation experience. To facilitate a strong match, gather information about the new hospitalist and pair him or her with a mentor who shares a similar personality, background, work style, etc.

Finally, consider training your hospitalist mentors. This need not require a large time investment on the part of the mentor. It may entail simply orienting him or her about the standard issues to cover and providing a checklist of items that should be covered during the orientation period.

The orientation program mentor should regularly check in with his or her mentee for at least the first six months and help the new hire (and significant other/family) integrate into the program, hospital, and community.

The above excerpt is adapted from Tools and Strategies for an Effective Hospitalist Program, published by HCPro, Inc.

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