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Develop position descriptions to promote physician leadership

Medical Staff Leader Connection, April 28, 2004

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Dear Medical Staff Leader:
 
Just as organization-wide visibility of physician leadership is important, it is also crucial that hospital leaders demonstrate to prospective physician leaders the importance of their positions. I recommend that the promotion of every leadership position be treated in much the same manner that an institution would treat any other top-level vacant position.

Position descriptions help clarify critical leadership functions, so competent clinicians can more efficiently serve as leaders. In addition to identifying essential functions, frequent tasks, and prerequisite skills, position descriptions should describe reporting relationships and performance evaluations, if applicable. A position description usually serves as a baseline against which a physician leader and those who rely on him or her can establish a sense of responsibility, accountability, and authority.

Many physician leaders have informal authority simply by virtue of their clinical competence, interpersonal skills, and judgment. However, most find that the formal authority they gain by having a specific title and position helps them fulfill their leadership roles.  Position descriptions help both to establish such formal authority and also to indemnify all physician leaders when they act within their roles to advise the board on specific competence-related issues.

Well-designed descriptions are critical to any corporate recruiting program, and should at least

 identify the prerequisites of the position, including all necessary education, skills, and experience
 outline the functions of the position
 indicate available resources and support
 describe both the benefits and risks the physician leader may anticipate

It is essential that hospital and medical staff leaders develop, maintain, and periodically update written descriptions of physician leadership positions.

That's all for this week.

All the best,

Hugh Greeley
http://www.greeley.com/seminars/

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