Boost physician engagement

Physician engagement is one of the greatest keys to the success of a healthcare organization and cannot be ignored, says Rosemary Dragon, CPMSM, CPCS, medical staff coordinator of St. Anthony Hospital/OrthoColorado Hospital in Lakewood, Colorado. While many methods for boosting physician engagement can be difficult to enact, something as simple as enhancing the physician onboarding tour can make a difference. Below Dragon shares some the enhancements her facility made:

• A tour of all clinical departments. Previously, we would take the physicians to the obvious departments, like preop, the PACU, the operating room, and the inpatient unit--the areas they would be working directly with day in and day out. Now, however, these tours include all clinical departments. Two of our recently oriented physicians commented that they had never known where the hospital pharmacy was during their previous hospital affiliations, yet they had more detailed questions for this department than any other, with the exception of the operating room.
• Collegial discussion with department managers. As we take the tour, I introduce each physician to the managers of the various clinical departments. These managers have done a wonderful job of not only welcoming the physician, but also discussing the physician's preferences on everything from pain control methods to physical therapy techniques. These discussions have had a number of benefits:
  • The department managers have been able to better prepare for the physician's needs
  • The physician has the opportunity to express expectations prior to admitting any patients
  • The managers have the opportunity to discuss evidence-based initiatives that have been made throughout the hospital
  • The physician and managers are able to quickly establish a collegial relationship

Source: Credentialing Resource Center Journal