Surgical Leadership Competencies for Navigating Hospital Network Expansion

Today, many hospitals are part of a multihospital network, which changes the context in which surgeons are asked to lead. This study explores key leadership competencies that surgical leaders use to navigate this hospital network expansion.

In this qualitative study, 30 surgical leaders were interviewed. Interviews were coded and analyzed via thematic analysis.

We identified three key competencies that leaders felt were important leadership skills to successfully navigate expanding hospital networks. First, leaders must steer the departmental vision within the evolving hospital network landscape. Second, leaders must align the visions of the department and of the hospital network. Third, leaders must build a network-oriented culture within their department.

As networks expand, leaders are tasked with unifying vision in their department. Leaders identified a unique opportunity to leverage their growing influence across the hospital network and invested in the people and culture of their department.