Tip of the week: Encourage department chairs to give updates at MEC meetings

In talking about which items to keep on the regular agenda of the medical executive committee (MEC), last week we said to limit strategic reports to only those needing discussion. There are reports that you do not want to limit though: reports from departments on key initiatives and challenges.

Don’t accept a department chair’s assertion that he or she has nothing to report. There is most often something important going on in each department that should be shared with the MEC. The MEC must hold the department chairs accountable for their performance, so it is important that the MEC understands the chair’s strengths, weaknesses, level of engagement, etc.

This week’s tip is from Medical Executive Committee Essentials Handbook, by Richard A. Sheff, MD; and Robert J. Marder, MD. Next week, we will look at the last suggested item to keep on the regular agenda.