Train your new medical staff leaders

Medical staff leaders often step into their new role with a desire to help improve processes at their organization but without training to do so. Expecting medical staff leaders to learn as they go is a mistake, according to most physician leader experts.

The 2017 Credentialing Resource Center (CRC) Symposium offers new and seasoned medical staff leaders the opportunity to learn about credentialing, privileging, peer review, and other medical staff duties in one quick hit. Below, CRC Symposium speaker and physician executive Todd Sagin, MD, JD, discusses the issues medical staff leaders are currently facing and how the Symposium can help them work through these issues.

What are the biggest challenges medical staff and physician leaders face today? 

At the 60,000-foot level, it is dealing with rapid change in our evolving health care system. At a more granular level, it is building more integrated delivery systems founded on a strong primary care base. Most important is finding ways to allow practitioners to spend more face time with patients and to build meaningful relationships with those for whom they care.

Is the fact that hospitals are employing physicians affecting the independence of the medical staff? Are physicians more reluctant to take on medical staff leadership roles?

I don’t believe that the shift to employment changes the independence of the medical staff. I have found that medical staff leaders from all backgrounds undertake their roles seriously and with dedication to the welfare of patients. But there is certainly a reluctance for already overworked and stressed physicians to take on yet more burdens in the form of leadership work. It is, therefore, important to give those who do step forward the knowledge, skills, and resources to do medical staff tasks efficiently and effectively.

Why should medical staff leaders attend the CRC Symposium? 

Credentialing is arguably the most important work medical staff leaders do. The Symposium provides the opportunity for these leaders to learn the best practices being employed by their colleagues from around the nation. Our faculty includes two highly experienced physician leaders familiar with the gamut of issues facing those who take on these challenging roles.

What do you think makes the CRC Symposium different from other conferences?

The faculty in this program are strong educators who are very much "in the trenches" experiencing the challenges that are faced every day by those in the audience.  The conference focuses on being practical, stresses efficient and effective problem-solving, and has faculty with a range of skills who are extremely approachable and interactive.

For more information on the 2017 CRC Symposium, click here.