COMMENTARY
Megan R. Mahoney, MD, MBA; Edward Damrose, MD; Tait Shanafelt, MD
Corresponding Author: Megan R. Mahoney, MD MBA; University of California San Francisco, Department of Family and Community Medicine
Email: Megan.mahoney@ucsf.edu
DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.2024.240136R1
Keywords: Burnout, Employee Health, Family Medicine, Family Physicians, Governing Board, Health Services, Leadership, Medical Staff, Patient Safety, Physician Satisfaction, Primary Health Care
Dates: Submitted: 03-31-2024; Revised: 05-31-2024; Accepted: 07-22-2024
FINAL PUBLICATION: |HTML| |PDF|
In the evolving landscape of healthcare, marked by increasing physician distress, the role of family physicians in leadership positions, emerges as crucial for driving systemic improvements. Drawing from 9 years of collective experience as chiefs of staff, this manuscript outlines a framework for family physicians serving in the Chief of Staff, Medical Staff President role or other physician executive positions aimed at improving physician well-being. Recognizing the comprehensive scope of practice and team-based orientation of family medicine, we highlight the unique capabilities of family physicians to foster organizational changes that address the root causes of physician burnout. The proposed framework emphasizes the importance of effective communication channels to ensure the medical staff's voices are heard and valued. It advocates for physician-centered approaches to credentialing and privileging processes, equitable incident reporting systems, and supportive measures for physicians facing professional challenges. By implementing a wellness-oriented framework, healthcare organizations can safeguard the future of the medical profession and create a healthcare system that prioritizes the well-being of both patients and clinicians.