PHYSICIANS AS LEADERS IN THE IMPROVEMENT OF HEALTH-CARE SYSTEMS

Physicians are often asked to assume leadership roles in their practic es, hospitals, and academic departments. These positions can be excell ent leverage points for improvement of health care quality. To make op timal use of these opportunities, physicians must learn how to lead. T his paper is intended to be a primer for physicians who are asked to l ead and want to learn how to lead well. A body of knowledge that physi cian-leaders should acquire is described, and case examples are used t o address such topics as the nature of leadership, the relation betwee n leadership and management, and ways in which physicians might approa ch a new leadership assignment. Guidelines for physicians who must pla y the role of followers are offered, and challenges that physicians wh o lead other physicians may face are described.