Gaining hospital administrators' attention: ways to improve physician-hospital management dialogue

Despite marked differences in training and professional interests, physicians and hospital managers face similar problems stemming from the unprecedented rate of change in the health care delivery system: failure of reimbursement to keep pace with rising costs, new therapeutic modalities, increasing government and managed care regulations, heightened consumerism, and an aging patient population. In the face of these mounting challenges, both physicians and hospital managers could benefit significantly from a climate of collaboration and interdependence.

This article presents a "case report" of a community teaching hospital in which practicing physicians and hospital administrators collaborated to develop an operating plan for the next 3 years to improve the practice environment.

The physicians recommended new clinical priorities to enhance service to patients and families, to improve physician-physician communication, to develop clinical protocols, and to build coordinated diagnostic treatment centers, which the administration has implemented.

Physicians and hospital managers can no longer pass on cost increases at will to patients and third-party payers. Nor can physicians and managers ignore the heightened power of patients and third-party payers. Effective dialogue and collaboration are in all parties' interests to optimize patient care and to develop innovative services. Despite the tensions created by competition and rapid change, transformation from a blaming to a learning environment may be a key strategic advantage in today's health care marketplace.