Five "dynamic tensions" in contemporary medical staffs part 2: Balancing freedom and commitment
Editor’s note: Mark your calendars! This series on the five dynamic tensions of the medical staff appears on the first Thursday of every month.
As we noted at the start of this series, the five dynamic tensions in contemporary medical staffs are:
- Collegiality and excellence
- Freedom and commitment
- Appropriate independence and mutual accountability
- Appreciation and continuous performance improvement
- Stability and change
Many medical staffs have difficulty finding the balance between freedom and commitment. In this context, freedom means each physician’s right to choose how to balance his or her precious time between his or her practice, family, leisure activities, and medical staff responsibilities. More and more medical staff members are opting to spend less time involved in medical staff activities, and in many organizations, this absence of commitment and leadership has led to a crisis situation.
Yet, physicians want to be involved in hospital discussions and maintain a voice at the table. This can only happen if they commit to participating in at least some medical staff activities. If physicians cannot make this commitment, the organized medical staff cannot carry out its duties effectively. Therefore, an effective medical staff must embody a healthy balance between each member’s freedom to make personal choices and his or her responsibility to actively participate on the organized medical staff. Where does your medical staff fall?
Next time, we will look at the third polarity, appropriate independence and mutual accountability.
William K. Cors, MD, MMM, CMSL
Vice President Medical Staff Services
The Greeley Company