American Hospital Association Invites Physicians to “Lead Well. Be Well. Care Well.”
The organization that represents the nation’s hospitals and healthcare networks has launched a new initiative aimed at training physicians to play a bigger role in shaping the future of American healthcare.
The American Hospital Association’s new Physician Alliance offers resources, data, tools, and services specifically designed to help physicians meet three objectives—to lead well, be well, and care well.
“The relationship between hospitals and physicians has never been more important than it is now, when the environment is changing and healthcare delivery is changing,” says internal medicine physician Jay Bhatt, MD, AHA’s Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. “Doctors need to be strategic partners with hospital leadership in order to chart a better future.”
A third of America’s physicians are now employed. Bhatt says the Physician Alliance is designed to help these doctors work more effectively within their hospitals and health systems by providing them with podcasts, webinars, issue briefs, toolkits, and unique immersion experiences. Alliance members will also be able to participate in dedicated educational tracks at AHA flagship meetings and be a part of a community of like-minded peers.
“Physicians who sign up to be part of the Alliance are joining a culture in which physicians are empowered to deliver care more effectively in the face of change,” says Bhatt. “Personally, I have found the training in adaptive leadership in particular to be very helpful. It has helped me connect with things that are positive, rewire my brain, and be more resilient. It is something I am using every day.”
Bhatt says Alliance resources address topics that may not have been part of a physician’s medical training like workflow, conflict management, having crucial conversations, and dealing with uncertainty—all of which can make them more effective leaders within their care teams.
“As healthcare delivery changes from fee-for-serve to a value-based system, it is incredibly important to have physicians shaping the future along with administrative leadership,” says Dr. Bhatt. “You don’t want to let external factors shape you and how you do the things that drew you to medicine in the first place.”
Tools and resources are available for senior physicians leaders in AHA-member institutions as well as front line employed physicians.
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Find out how to join the AHA Physician Alliance
Read the AHA’s fact sheet on physician burnout and resilience