Getting physician buy-in to standardization efforts

The healthcare industry in recent years has been aggressively developing guidelines for physicians to follow in providing patient care--and physicians have just as aggressively resisted using them, arguing they stifle creativity in addressing patients' specific needs. But with studies showing that following best practices results in better outcomes and lower costs, systems are looking for ways to bring physicians on board. And they've learned a number of things to do and do not do--among them, do involve physicians in developing the guidelines, don't lock physicians into outdated protocols.