Constructive tension: hospital/medical staff relations

The missions of the hospital and its medical staff are not the same. The only reason for a hospital to exist is to provide a support system for physicians. It is in the best interests of patients and the public for physicians not to become "organization men." In turn, however, it is incumbent on physicians to show restraint in the provision of costly services. The guiding principle must be the selection of what is most relevant to the improvement of services to patients.