Tip of the week: Implement a successful medical staff leadership-training program

Hospitals may already have the resources necessary for an effective in-house medical staff leadership development and training program. Other institutions may need to collaborate with outside experts or send new leaders to conference seminars and other training programs.

The key to a successful leadership-training program, however, is to find one that educates physicians in a systematic and ongoing fashion. The training program should have high visibility in the organization, be adequately supported with financial and other resources, and be designed to encourage new physicians to become involved.

Some design considerations include the following:

• Develop a customized leadership training program with input from past, current, and potential medical staff leaders.
• Offer access to seminars, audioconferences, publications, and consultants to help new leaders understand issues facing hospitals and medical staffs.
• Develop core training modules that assist physician leaders in understanding their functional responsibilities pertaining to medical staff leadership.

Learn more tips on leadership inside Medical Staff Leaders' Practical Guide, Sixth Edition, by William K. Cors, MD, MMM, FACPE; Mary J. Hoppa, MD, MBA; and Richard A. Sheff, MD.