Tip of the week: A solid selection process makes for strong medical staff leaders

In the coming months, hospitals around the country will undertake the annual task of selecting medical staff leaders-those individuals who will shape policies, make critical decisions affecting the governance of the hospital, and provide steady leadership to the medical staff.

Whether your organization chooses medical staff leaders through elections or by appointment, it can be an arduous process that can consume the medical staff's time and resources. But more importantly, without proper planning this annual ritual can often lead to the selection of a physician who-hours before his or her appointment-had no interest in leading the medical staff.

Successful physician leadership selection begins by establishing a solid set of rules that outline the selection process and by creating an environment that fosters growth and education for physicians who voluntarily step forward to take on this challenge.

Read more on medical staff leadership selection in the October issue of Medical Staff Briefing.