Physician leadership: a roadmap for health-system change

Physician involvement in health-system decision making and their support of health-system initiatives can be critical to a health system's success. Many physicians, however, do not have the business skills or perspective to be effective contributors. This paper identifies three levels of physician leader development: awareness and head knowledge; creating an "us" culture; and taking ownership of the marketplace. It also identifies three physician leader-development methods that health systems can use to reach these points: integrated executive education; project-based learning; and facilitating ownership. Based on health-system objectives, top management should choose an appropriate level of physician leader development and then implement an appropriate change plan by using the proposed physician leader-development methods.