Encourage meeting attendance

Physicians are busy people; although they’re required to attend many meetings, leaders should make attendance worth their while. To encourage better meeting attendance, consider the following advice:

• Keep meetings as brief as possible and ensure that they start and end on time.
• Offer incentives, such as continuing education credits or compensation.
• Thank medical staff members—and their families—periodically for meeting attendance, letting them know members’ input and participation are valuable to medical staff leaders. Meetings often extend a physician’s workday, so sending a gift or note to spouses periodically is a nice way to acknowledge that sacrifice and express your appreciation.
• Give participants a manageable assignment at least five days before the meeting and ask them to report to the committee. You can also ask members to lead discussion of a particular topic—provided they’re knowledgeable and have time to prepare.

Editor's note: This tip is adapted from The Medical Executive Committee Manual, by Mary J. Hoppa, MD, MBA, CMSL; and William F. Mills, MD, MMM, CPE, FACPE, FAAFP.