When clinicians lead

Hi everyone, this is Jared Schwartz.  I look forward to sharing my thoughts on The Daily Scan and from hearing yours; please feel free to post comments!

---

An article in McKinsey Quarterly titled “When Clinicians Lead” argues there is a critical need for physicians to be actively involved in helping “lead the way” if we are to ever have real health care reform that results in better patient outcome and more efficient use of limited resources.  Having practiced medicine for many years and being actively involved in a variety of management and leadership roles, I can state this will be no easy task.  Leadership is something that can be learned through mentors or just personal drive, personality and education.  The problem is leadership as a core competency for success is not even on the list of topics taught throughout most physicians’ training.  I am not talking about leadership as in CEO, but everyday leadership through example that others will observe.  Treating all with respect, teamwork, more objectivity, mentoring, and demonstrating that you understand how important it is to use resources wisely is everyday leadership.  In my opinion this will have a greater impact on improving both the quality and efficiency of our medical care than all of the congressional committees’ and agencies’ ideas combined.  If medical schools and postgraduate programs do not lead the way in producing physician leaders, we as individuals and professional associations must do it ourselves.

Comments

[Brian E. Moore, MD]

Qualities such as "treating all with respect" and "teamwork" are things learned in kindergarten. If these qualities are not a part of an individual's fabric by the time they are in medical school, it's probably too late. The focus should be on medical school admissions committees to select students who have the potential to lead.

[online consultation]

All in all we have to be more careful in quality standard of the student before anything.